Bangladesh’s first female surfer at the Asian Games hopes to establish a surfing school for girls
Fatema Akter once made a living by collecting seashells from Cox’s Bazar beach. Today, the same beach has become the starting point of her dream of reaching the Olympics.
Overcoming poverty, social criticism, harassment, and other obstacles, Fatema has made her mark on the international surfing scene. She became Bangladesh’s first female surfer to compete at the Asian Games in Japan, making history for the country’s sport.
But she doesn’t want to stop there. Fatema dreams of representing Bangladesh at the Olympics within the next five years. She also wants to establish a surfing club or training centre to help more girls take up the sport.
Fatema was born into a low-income family in Moheshkhali. After losing her father as a child, she moved to Cox’s Bazar town with her mother and sisters. The family made necklaces from seashells collected from the beach and sold them to tourists.
She had no major ambitions before taking up surfing. One day, while visiting the beach with friends, she saw some girls surfing and decided to try it herself.
She fell several times after being hit by the waves on her first attempt. Encouraged by a friend, she kept trying until she managed to stand on the board. She said it felt like flying through the sky.
From then on, she began going to the beach early in the morning to practise, sometimes without telling her family.
Her biggest challenges, however, came from social attitudes. She faced criticism over girls surfing in the sea, her clothing, complexion, and even marriage. At one point, her mother stopped her from surfing for two weeks and barred her from leaving home.
Fatema eventually convinced her mother that she was pursuing a legitimate dream. Her coach, Rashed Alam, also visited the family and persuaded her mother to allow her to continue training.
She also faced harassment from a local youth while travelling to surf, but did not give up.
Her mother’s concerns gradually turned into pride. In April this year, Fatema won the women’s category at a national surfing competition at Laboni Point, beating 23 competitors. Her mother reportedly wept with joy and embraced her.
Fatema’s participation in the 20th Asian Games in Japan was another major milestone. Unlike surfers from other countries, she travelled without her coach. She sought Rashed Alam’s advice through video calls when necessary and advanced to the second round.
The trip also exposed the gap between Bangladesh and other countries in surfing facilities, training, and equipment. Surfers from other countries had access to multiple boards, while Fatema had only one, which was designed for larger waves. The waves were smaller on the competition day.
She believes Bangladeshi surfers could perform better if they had access to international-standard training locations such as California, Bali or Goa.
Fatema is also continuing her education and is currently a Class 10 student. She completes household chores in the morning before going to the beach to practice, attends school afterward, and helps her mother at home before studying at night.
Financial hardship has been a constant challenge. At one point, her mother considered stopping her education because the family could not afford the costs. Her coach later helped cover her education and travel expenses.
Now, Fatema’s biggest goal is to compete at the Olympics. At the same time, she wants to establish a surfing club or school for girls in Cox’s Bazar where they can train safely under female coaches.
She says government support is needed to make this possible. Her family does not own land near the beach where such a training centre could be established, while ensuring a safe environment for girls travelling to and from the beach is also important.
Fatema once trained with 12 other girls. Only three remain in surfing today. Some have married, while others left the sport because of family pressure and social criticism.
She believes more girls will take up surfing if they receive family support and have access to safe training facilities.
Her message to young girls is simple: they should not give up because of fear. They should build confidence, convince their families, and seek help when necessary.
Fatema, who once collected seashells to help support her family, now stands on the waves dreaming of the Olympics. Her ambition is not only about personal success but also about opening a path for more Bangladeshi girls to enter international surfing from the shores of Cox’s Bazar.
By Abdu Rashid Manik
Photo: Abdu Rashid Manik
