Bangladesh’s Ministry of Women and Children Affairs has selected four recipients for this year’s Begum Rokeya Padak, with national footballer Rituparna Chakma honoured for her role in advancing women’s empowerment in sport.
The Padak, awarded annually on 9 December to commemorate the birth and death anniversary of Begum Rokeya, recognises women who have made significant contributions across society. This year, Dr Ruvana Rakib has been chosen for her work in women’s education, Kalpana Akter for her role in labour rights, Dr Nabila Idris for her contribution to human rights and Rituparna for her impact on women’s participation in sport.
Rituparna’s rise has mirrored the growth of women’s football in Bangladesh. Her decisive goals helped Bangladesh defeat Myanmar and qualify for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup for the first time, and she scored in the SAFF Championship final last year as Bangladesh beat Nepal to win the title. Having overcome social and family obstacles, she has become one of the country’s most recognisable sporting figures. Officials described her influence as symbolic of “a new generation of athletes redefining expectations.”
Although athletes have not traditionally been recognised on Rokeya Day, last year legendary chess player Rani Hamid received the honour. Rituparna will now follow her, with the award to be presented at a ceremony on Tuesday.
Bangladesh’s second highest civilian honour, the Ekushey Padak, was awarded to the national women’s football team in 2025. Before that, no sporting team or athlete had been recognised in that category, aside from former player and commentator Abdul Hamid, who received the award for journalism. The women’s football team became the first team to be recognised collectively.
This year’s Begum Rokeya Padak marks another step in formally acknowledging the role of women in shaping the country’s sporting and social landscape.
