Bangladesh Forest Department’s biodiversity conservation officer Fa-tu-jo Khalek Mila, widely known as Zohra Mila, has joined the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) in the United States. She flew to Washington, DC, early Saturday.

The three-week programme began on 20 September at the US Department of State through high-level dialogues. Mila will also travel to several states, attend workshops, join field visits, and hold meetings with public representatives. The US government is covering all expenses, including travel.

Expressing gratitude to the US Embassy in Dhaka and her department for nominating her, Mila said, “Representing my country in such a prestigious programme is a great honour. The knowledge and experience I gain will help me expand and strengthen my work in the future.”

Mila previously travelled to Switzerland, Australia, Malaysia, and India for programmes on wildlife and biodiversity. A graduate of zoology from Jahangirnagar University, she worked with several NGOs dedicated to wildlife conservation before joining the Forest Department. She chose field research over city comforts, spending her career in forests and hills studying wildlife.

The IVLP is the flagship professional exchange programme of the US State Department, launched in 1940. It connects emerging leaders from around the world with American counterparts in government, business, and civil society. To date, around 250,000 participants have joined, including future ministers, heads of state, Nobel laureates, and social leaders.

Unlike other programmes, individuals cannot apply for the IVLP. US embassies nominate participants based on their leadership qualities, professional impact, and future potential. The initiative aims to build global connections, strengthen people-to-people diplomacy, and inspire innovation across diverse fields.