National team footballer Rituparna Chakma said her Rokeya Padak recognition “will inspire the women of the country even more”, after being honoured at the Begum Rokeya Day ceremony on 9 December in Dhaka. The ceremony took place at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium, where Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus presented this year’s awards to four women who have made notable contributions to women’s education, rights, human rights and women’s awakening. Rituparna was recognised in the women’s awakening (sports) category.
The award was presented on a day that marked both the 145th birth anniversary and the 93rd death anniversary of Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, a pioneer of women’s education, empowerment and social reform in Bengal. The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs organised various programmes to observe the occasion. Rituparna has been one of the central figures in Bangladesh women’s football in recent years, helping the team win the SAFF Championship titles in 2022 and 2024 and playing a major role in their first-ever qualification for the main round of the Asian Cup. Earlier this year, the national women’s team received the Ekushey Padak for the first time, and now Rituparna has received state recognition individually with the Rokeya Padak.
Speaking to the media after the ceremony, she described the award as deeply meaningful at both personal and national levels. “All awards are an honour, but this one carries greater weight because it is a state recognition named after someone who fought for women’s progress,” she said. She added that such recognition would motivate women across Bangladesh even further and would also increase her own sense of responsibility. Reflecting on the team’s Ekushey Padak earlier in the year, she said that collective honour had been special, but receiving the Rokeya Padak individually made this moment particularly memorable. “Awards like this strengthen my duty towards my country and society,” she added.
Rituparna’s rise in football has been shaped by immense resilience. Born in Rangamati, she has represented Bangladesh since 2021, scoring 13 goals in 33 matches and being named the best player of the 2024 SAFF Championship. She finished as the team’s top scorer in the Asian qualifiers in Myanmar in June–July, netting five goals. Yet her progress has come despite profound personal hardship. Her father died in 2015, when she was only 11, and her younger brother passed away after electrocution in 2022. Her mother has also fought cancer for several years. Rituparna said she carried these memories with her during the ceremony. “My father would have been proud… I missed my younger brother a lot today. My mother’s strength always keeps me going,” she said.
The Rokeya Padak seldom recognises female athletes, making her achievement even more significant. Last year’s award in sport was given to legendary chess player Rani Hamid, and Rituparna now follows in her footsteps. She said she hoped more women in sport would be honoured in the coming years. “Sportspersons represent the country internationally. Awards like this can inspire many others. There are many deserving women athletes in Bangladesh, and such recognition will encourage them to keep moving forward,” she said.
