The Bangladesh women’s national football team beat Myanmar 2-1 to qualify for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup final round for the very first time. But this was more than just a win. This was a moment that redefined belief.
Rituparna Chakma’s name echoed louder than ever — not as a scorer of goals, but as the face of a dream now real.
She scored both goals in the match. She carried the midfield. She inspired a nation. And in the words of Bangladesh Football Federation’s women’s wing chief, Mahfuza Akhter Kiran: “Rituparna is our Messi.”
You could say it was poetic. You could call it fate. But the truth is, it was years of hard work finally finding its voice — and Rituparna, that shy young girl from the hills, became the roar.
Bangladesh had never qualified for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup final round before. Never played under the bright lights of Asia’s biggest stage. But against Myanmar, the red and green didn’t just show up — they soared.
The two goals didn’t come from chaos, but from control. From vision. From a player who knew exactly what she wanted to do and executed it with elegance.
Coach Peter Butler, the Englishman guiding the team through transition and turbulence, trusted Rituparna to lead. And she did. Not with words, but with the ball. She glided, fought, and struck — like a veteran, though she’s still a rising star.
At the press conference that followed, Mahfuza Kiran was hopeful — not just for the upcoming tournament in March 2026 in Australia, but for a greater future. “We’ll sit with the president immediately and plan the next phase,” she said. “To prepare, we want friendly matches with Japan, Korea, China, and Australia. This is no time to sit back. It’s time to move forward.”
Peter Butler remains central to that journey. In a team that has seen its share of internal drama, Rituparna has remained the quiet constant. And Butler? The believer behind the bench.
“Thanks to Butler. He knows how to lift a team from the dugout,” Kiran said. “With him, we truly believe our team can go far.”
Several Bangladeshi women currently play in Bhutan’s domestic league, including Rituparna. But Kiran sees that only as a temporary step. “Bhutan is not a strong league,” she admitted. “We allowed them to go for mental freshness, but we need them in Europe, in bigger leagues.”
She added, “If Rituparna keeps this form, I’m sure offers from Europe will come.”
And why not? Her performance against Myanmar was not only a display of individual brilliance, but a message — to scouts, to clubs, and to the football world.
Bangladesh’s aim isn’t just participation anymore. “We’ve set our eyes on finishing in the top six,” said Kiran. “We want to play in the World Cup. The dream is alive, and our friendlies will help shape that.”
Rituparna is no longer just a player. She’s a symbol — of potential, of belief, of what can happen when you hand a girl a football and let her fly. Quiet off the pitch, explosive on it, she’s become a face everyone knows and a name the nation chants with pride.
Bangladesh women’s football isn’t just moving forward. It’s rising.