In a dusty village road, with a broken sandal clutched in her hand, Shirin Akter never imagined that she would one day become Bangladesh’s fastest runner. Today, she has claimed the title of the nation’s fastest woman 16 times, with her relentless spirit and unwavering determination shaping her path from a simple rural background to the national stage.
Shirin Akter’s story begins not on a professional track, but on the winding, rugged roads of the village of Dakhkhola in Satkhira. It was in 2006, a year before she made her name in the athletic world, when she first took that fateful journey to the stadium. School was closed for the day, but Shirin, passionate about running, sought out her coach, Akbar Ali, to find out if there was any practice scheduled. With only 10 taka in her pocket, she ventured to the local shop to make a phone call, a rarity at the time, to find that there was indeed a race to be run.
With only three taka left, Shirin started running towards the stadium. But halfway through her journey, disaster struck—her sandal broke. Rather than turn back, she continued running barefoot on the dirt path, clutching the broken sandal in her hand and racing to the stadium. It was that very day that her potential was realized, as she triumphed in the trial, beating the boys to become the fastest.
Her humble beginnings didn’t stop there. Shirin grew up in a family of farmers, the eldest of four sisters, in a small village where education was valued, but sports were a distant dream. Although her academic performance was not outstanding, it was her natural talent in running that caught the attention of teachers, who began to treat her with a special regard. But the road to athletics was far from easy, as her parents were initially reluctant to send her to the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan (BKSP), a premier sports institution.
It was only after Akbar Ali, her coach, personally convinced her parents that Shirin was allowed to pursue her dreams. The process was not simple—on the day the acceptance letter arrived, the entire village gathered around to celebrate her achievement, though her parents were still hesitant. But after an emotional conversation and the support of her relatives, Shirin left for BKSP.
At BKSP, Shirin’s breakthrough came quickly. After just six months, during a competition meant for senior athletes, she was asked to race in the 400-meter event after another athlete fell ill. With no proper attire, Shirin borrowed the uniform of an older girl and raced in it. She fainted after completing 300 meters, but to everyone’s surprise, when she regained consciousness, she was told that she had won the race. That moment changed everything.
Her journey from there was nothing short of remarkable. By the time she was in high school, Shirin was known as the fastest girl in the country. From 2007 to 2012, she won titles as the fastest girl and fastest teenager. In 2014, she achieved her lifelong dream by becoming the national champion in the 100-meter race, earning the title of the fastest woman in Bangladesh.
Beyond the track, Shirin’s dedication and success earned her a place in the Bangladesh Navy as a sportswoman, where she continued to excel. Alongside her athletic career, she pursued higher education, enrolling in the Department of Islamic History and Culture at Rajshahi University while continuing her training.
With 16 national titles under her belt, Shirin has proven time and again that determination and grit can turn obstacles into opportunities. Despite her fame and success, she remains grounded. Shirin often speaks of how her family’s pride in her accomplishments and the admiration of her community keep her motivated.
Her story has become an inspiration, especially for young girls. Many in her community now look to her not just as a successful athlete, but as a role model who has shown them that no dream is too big, no hurdle too high. In her words, “Many girls have found courage through my journey. I hope they see me not just as an athlete, but as a human being who never gave up.”
Today, Shirin is not just the fastest woman in the country; she is a symbol of hope, resilience, and the power of never giving up, no matter the circumstances. Her journey from a broken sandal on a dusty road to standing as the nation’s fastest woman is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the limitless potential within us all.
LND/BG
