Born to serve. A Bangladeshi engineer ensures that UN helicopters can carry out lifesaving operations in the DR Congo

To be of service. To be useful  to others. In Captain Sabrina Binte Islam's family, those are some of the  values that have  been handed down from father to daughter. Her father, a retired Bangladeshi army doctor, inspired her from an early age.

Captain Sabrina Binte Islam is an aeronautical maintenance engineer from Bangladesh . She arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in March 2024, and her job is to ensure the safety and functionality of MONUSCO helicopters, which crisscross the Congolese skies to deploy troops, transport civilians and provide emergency responses in the mission’s areas of operation.

In the province of North Kivu, where the prevailing security situation is often volatile and air transport can be life-saving, maintaining helicopters to ensure their operational readiness takes on a whole new dimension.

It's a responsibility that Captain Sabrina Binte Islam says she approaches with an attention to detail and meticulousness. “My job is to ensure that our three helicopters are always operational and mission-ready. Inspecting helicopters isn't just about finding faults, it's also about making sure that lives are safe,” she explains.

Her family's commitment to serving others is a source of pride and motivation. She is not the only one to have followed this path: her eldest sister is a doctor in the Bangladeshi army, another one of her sisters is a civilian doctor and her brother is also a doctor in her country's army. 

 

The 29-year old captain been serving in the Bangladeshi army for almost ten years. She began her military training immediately after graduating from high school.

 

During her training, which lasted almost three years, she studied electrical engineering, specializing in aircraft maintenance. She also passed the test to become a parachutist.

 

“Jumping was a challenge that attracted me for a long time. I dared to take the plunge, and I succeeded,” she says. Today, Sabrina continues to practice skydiving on a regular basis to maintain this specific skill, alongside her daily tasks.

Giving it her all

Captain Binte Islam's day begins at dawn with sports. “Fitness isn't just a requirement, it's a state of mind: it's about being ready to give our all when duty calls,” she explains.

 

Then begins a demanding day's work, during which she performs a thorough pre-flight check, solves technical problems and collaborates with flight crews and maintenance engineers.

The Bangladeshi aviation battalion based in Goma is available 24/7, ready to deploy within 30 minutes during the day and 45 minutes at night. This rapid response capability is vital to support MONUSCO's mandate, both in terms of humanitarian efforts and the protection of civilians in conflict zones. “Knowing that my work is helping to improve the lives of people in the DRC gives me a deep sense of purpose,” emphasizes Captain Binte Islam.

 

Proud to serve

 

Reconciling a demanding career with family life is a challenge she enjoys. “It's essential to draw a line between work and family life,” she says. The support of her family and colleagues plays a crucial role in helping her manage this balance. “Whenever I'm faced with a challenge, I don't hesitate to ask for help. It's this support that helps me keep things in perspective,” she explains.

She loves to read novels and biographies of historical figures, admitting with a smile: “I'm not the best cook either, but I love trying out new recipes. And even if my family or guests sometimes make fun of me, I enjoy trying”.

Captain Sabrina Binte Islam is optimistic about the future of the DRC, recognizing the country's potential for growth and development. “There is so much to be done to improve living conditions here. The region has enormous potential, and I'm excited to be part of that change,” she declares.