Born into an ordinary family in Dulahazara union of Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar, Anisur Rahman Ziku never dreamed of becoming a professional footballer. He loved football, but his physical build often kept him out of major local tournaments.
That boy would become one of Bangladesh’s most trusted goalkeepers and win the best goalkeeper award at the SAFF Championship. Known to fans as the ‘Hawk of Bengal’, his journey began with a simpler goal: losing weight through football.
Growing up in Dulahazara
Ziku was born on August 10, 1997, in Dulahazara. He wanted to play as a forward, but teammates often asked him to stand in goal because of his build. He played mainly for enjoyment and hoped to lose some weight.
In a 2023 interview, he recalled that his father bought him a football but was reluctant to let him play outside the home. His family was also hesitant about letting him travel for training. When a local team needed a goalkeeper, Ziku performed well enough to catch senior players’ attention and began playing regularly in goal.
The beginning of his professional journey
A local tournament in 2007 proved a turning point. Playing for Balurchar in the Faiza Gold Cup in Dulahazara, he attracted the attention of senior footballers from Dhaka clubs. They encouraged him to train regularly.
Ziku took part in an under-16 trial in Cox’s Bazar, but his family still had reservations about training outside the area. Referee Ali Hossain convinced his father to allow it. After approximately a month of training, he received a trial in Dhaka, thanks to Jamir, a senior player from the area, whom Ziku credits with introducing him to professional football. He had also played for Kallol Sangha through Mizan Bhai of Chattogram.
In 2014, Ziku joined Farashganj Club. He gradually established himself in domestic football before joining Bashundhara Kings, one of the country’s leading clubs. In a Daily Ittefaq interview on June 26, 2022, he called reaching 100 appearances for the club a particularly memorable achievement.
National team
Ziku was first called up to the under-19 national team, which gradually changed his family’s attitude towards his career. Even after joining the squad, he had limited opportunities and said in interviews that he did not play regularly for two to three years. He took advantage of another goalkeeper’s absence to showcase his skills.
He made his international debut against Nepal in 2020. He later played against Qatar ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, a match that marked the start of his establishing himself under Bangladesh’s goalposts. His favourite goalkeepers include England’s Jordan Pickford, Germany’s Manuel Neuer and Brazil’s Alisson Becker, with Pickford named as his idol.
SAFF’s best goalkeeper
Ziku’s biggest achievement came at the 2023 SAFF Championship. His performances helped Bangladesh reach the semi-finals for the first time in 14 years. Bangladesh lost 1-0 to Lebanon after extra time and missed the final, but Ziku was named the tournament’s best goalkeeper.
Fans began calling him the ‘Hawk of Bengal’. In July 2023, he received a homecoming reception in Dulahazara, where residents, public representatives and fans welcomed him at a local playing field.
On education, sport and the future
Reliable published sources do not provide detailed information about Ziku’s formal education. In a 2023 interview with Alokito Bangladesh, he said many rural families did not encourage children to play sports early and focused only on education. He argued that sports should receive equal attention, and that family support and local sponsorship are essential for nurturing talent.
Ziku believes talent alone is not enough, and that regular practice, proper training and sponsorship are needed. Better playing fields and training facilities locally could help produce more footballers from Cox’s Bazar. In a 2023 interview, he said Bangladesh could eventually win the SAFF Championship if the team maintains its progress.
An inspiration for Cox’s Bazar
Ziku’s rise has inspired young footballers in Cox’s Bazar, particularly in Chakaria and Dulahazara. Once overlooked for local tournaments because of his build, the boy now guards the goal for Bangladesh after family resistance, financial difficulties, long struggles in Dhaka, and years of waiting for opportunities.
By Abdu Rashid Manik
Photo: Courtesy
