Rupna Chakma
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Rupna Chakma | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 2 January 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Naniarchar, Rangamati, Chittagong Division, Bangladesh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Transport United Ladies | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2024 | Bashundhara Kings | 25 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Transport United Ladies | 4 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2020 | Bangladesh U17 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2022 | Bangladesh U19 | 19 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019– | Bangladesh | 35 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 13 August 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 5 July 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rupna Chakma (Chakma: 𑄢𑄪𑄛𑄴𑄚 𑄌𑄋𑄴𑄟𑄳𑄦; Bengali: রুপনা চাকমা) is a Bangladeshi football player who plays for the Bangladesh women's national football team.[1][2] She was part of the Bangladesh team that won the 2022 and 2024 SAFF Women's Championship and was named "The best goalkeeper" in both of those tournament.[3][4]
Chakma played in the under-16 team in 2019.[5]
Early life
Rupana was born in the village of Bhuiyodam, located in the Ghilachari hills of Naniarchar Upazila, Rangamati, Bangladesh. Her father, Gatha Moni Chakma, passed away before her birth. Her mother, Kalosona Chakma, raised Rupana and her three siblings, earning a livelihood as a day laborer in agricultural fields.[6]
Career
Early career
Rupana's schoolteacher, Virsen Chakma, recognized her enthusiasm for football and encouraged her to engage in training. There were initial concerns about the societal perceptions of girls participating in sports. Rupana's skills were showcased during a local upazila-level tournament.
She subsequently enrolled at Ghagra Primary School, where she trained as a goalkeeper under the guidance of coach Shanti Moni Chakma. In 2014, she took part in the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib National Gold Cup Football Tournament, where she was honored with the Best Goalkeeper award.
Club career
In 2020, Rupana joined Bashundhara Kings, competing at the national league level.
In 2025, Rupna joined Bhutan Women's National League club Transport United FC.[7]
Honours
Bashundhara Kings
Bangladesh
Bangladesh U20
Individual
- SAFF Women's Championship Best Goalkeeper: 2022, 2024
International career
In 2018, she joined the Under-19 Women's Team and helped Bangladesh win the 2021 SAFF Championship by defeating India in the final.[8]
Rupna is a two-time SAFF Women's Championship winner (2022 and 2024) Rupana was named as best goalkeeper of the 2022 tournament after only conceding a goal in Bangladesh's 3-1 win over Nepal in the final.[9] She was named best goalkeeper again 2024.[10]
Personal life
Rupana's achievements brought attention to her family's struggles. After 2022 SAFF Women's Football Tournament, the deputy commissioner of Rangamati visited Rupana's home and provided financial support.[11] Media coverage of her story caught the attention of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who ordered that a new house be built for Rupana's family.[12]
References
- ^ "Motivated Bangladesh face Bhutan in 1st semifinal on Friday". jagonews24.com. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
- ^ "Valiant Rupna's error costs Bangladesh". The Daily Star. 2022-03-19. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
- ^ "Captain fantastic Sabina named player of the tournament". Prothom Alo. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
- ^ "Bangladesh players sweep SAFF Women Championship awards". The Daily Star. 2022-09-19. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
- ^ "U-16 girls in final round again". The Daily Star. 2019-03-02. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
- ^ Roni, Farid Uddin (2022-10-26). "The inspiring story of national footballer Rupana Chakma". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
- ^ "Five more Bangladeshi women footballer head to Bhutan for National League". The Business Standard. 13 April 2025.
- ^ "Bangladesh beat India to retain SAFF U-19 Women's Championship title". The Daily Star. 2021-12-22. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
- ^ "Bangladesh players sweep SAFF Women Championship awards". The Daily Star. 2022-09-19. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
- ^ Chowdhury, Shabab (4 July 2025). "Want to play high-risk, high-reward football? Better have Rupna 'The Eagle' Chakma". The Daily Star. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
- ^ Dhar, Bijoy (21 September 2022). "Rangamati DC hands 3L to Rupna and Ritu Porna's family". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ "PM orders building house for Rupna Chakma". Daily Sun. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2024.