The inspiring story of national footballer Rupana Chakma

As part of the Bangladesh Women's Football team, Rupana Chakma was recently adjudged the best female goalkeeper in South Asia. From a simple girl living in the hill tracts of Chattogram, Rupana Chakma has emerged as a national icon through hard work and perseverance.

Rupana Chakma hails from the remote village of Bhuiyodam in the secluded Ghilachari hills of Naniarchar upazila, Rangamati. Born as a posthumous child, she did not have the opportunity to see her father, Gatha Moni Chakma. The distraught Kalosona Chakma began her struggles to earn a decent living for her four children. Kalosona would work inhumane hours as a day labourer in agricultural fields to manage two meals a day for the family. Despite the abject poverty, Rupana Chakma nurtured a knack for sports, and playing football has been in her dreams ever since childhood.

Rupana caught the attention of her teacher Virsen Chakma, who expressed his intention to take Rupana to Ghagra for her football training. Fearing social stigma, Kalosona refused, but soon, Rupana got to play at the upazila level, where she impressed everyone with her playing skills.

This time, Kalosona Chakma could no longer refuse the proposal of Rupana's teachers. Rupana Chakma moved to Ghagra Primary School where she started receiving training as a goalkeeper under coach Shanti Moni Chakma. It was here at Ghagra that the seeds of Rupana's dream to play for the national team were sown.

In 2014, Rupana participated in the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib National Gold Cup Football Tournament at the school level and showed excellent skills at the goalpost. No surprises, she was adjudged the best goalkeeper in the competition.

Her skills attracted the attention of the Bangladesh Football Federation, but Rupana Chakma's height posed a problem. However, even being only five feet tall, she showed her skills, mental strength, and self-confidence.  

At the national league level, Rupana Chakma started playing for Bashundhara Kings and her performance soon earned her a spot in the national team. As part of the Under-19 Women's Team, Rupana Chakma won the title of SAAF champions, defeating team India.

At the recently concluded SAAF Women's Football Tournament, Rupana excelled as a goalkeeper and did not concede a single goal in the group stages. Playing against hosts Nepal in the final, she made some great saves; beating the favourites 3-1 her team made history by becoming SAAF champions.

To congratulate her family on Rupana's success, Mizanur Rahman, deputy commissioner of Rangamati rushed to her house and handed over a cheque for Tk 150,000. Journalists soon covered the news and through social media, her dilapidated house came under the national spotlight. Honourable Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina was at that time in New York to attend the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly. She instructed the concerned officials to build a house for Rupana Chakma. The construction of the house will begin soon.

In a country where females are denied equal rights as their male counterparts, Rupana serves as a shining example of how hard work can help one achieve their dreams. It shows that irrespective of poverty, given the opportunity even girls from the remotest corners of the country can make us proud.