Racing Since Childhood
Racing in Bangladesh has long been a ‘men’s sport.’ But that all changed when a young woman, barely 20, put her country on the international racing map. Meet Kashfia Arfa–the first female racer of Bangladesh.
In 2010, her father died in a car accident. She was in the car. She saw it all. “That moment took away my most precious person,” she said softly. “After that, I wanted to know what this machine really was. My father loved driving and always had fancy cars. So at the age of seven, I decided to learn.” That decision set her on a road few girls in Bangladesh have dared to travel.
Racing may be her claim to fame, but sports have been part of Kashfia’s DNA for years. She played handball and badminton during her school and college days at Viqarunnisa Noon. She didn’t just play for fun–she still plays handball competitively today.
Recently, she broke another barrier. As captain of Bangladesh’s first-ever women’s tchoukball team, Kashfia led the squad at the 3rd Beach Tchoukball Championship in Bali, Indonesia. Representing her country in yet another global event wasn’t just about medals.
Picture: Kashfia Arfa.
Defying Bias Behind the Wheel
Encouraged by her partner and a friend, she connected with the Automobiles Association of Bangladesh (AAB) earlier in 2024. The AAB has been Bangladesh’s motorsport authority since 1970. It’s linked with the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), which governs global racing. Thanks to AAB, young racers now get training, sponsorship, and international licenses. That single introduction changed her life.
At first, Kashfia thought racing was impossible for someone like her. Then she saw Bangladeshi racer Avik Anwar competing abroad. That lit a fire. “Watching him made me believe it was possible for me too,” she said.
But her real mentor turned out to be closer to home–the Director of the Automobiles Association of Bangladesh. “He has been my guardian angel,” she said with gratitude. “He taught me the basics of racing and supported me from the very beginning.”
Picture: Kashfia Arfa.
She opened up about the hurdles in Bangladesh. Car racing is tough there. No top-notch tracks exist. Cars, gear, and training fall short. But the Automobile Association steps in now. They offer help and set up training. Young folks and groups show more interest. With support and plans, racing could boom. Kashfia faced plenty of obstacles as the first female Bangladeshi racer. But she's optimistic.
But being a woman behind the wheel hasn’t been smooth. “In our country, people still don’t accept women as drivers,” she confessed. “I hear negative words every time I drive. I’ve learned to take that as a strength. You must listen to yourself and ignore critics if you want to follow your dreams.” Strong words from someone who has already proved she belongs on the track.
“My mother is my strongest supporter. She left me in a male-dominated field and trusted me to find my way. She never forced me to do anything I disliked. She always told me, ‘Follow your passion, follow your dreams.’ That’s the only reason I can do what I do today.”
Picture: Kashfia Arfa.
Bangladesh Debuts at AAGC
From September 27 to 29, Vietnam hosted the second round of the Asian Auto Gymkhana Championship (AAGC) 2024. Drivers came from Malaysia, India, Indonesia, and beyond. Bangladesh joined for the first time. And in that debut, Kashfia didn’t just show up–she bagged sixth place in mixed doubles. History was made.
Kashfia entered both solo and mixed doubles at the Gymkhana Championship. She drove a BYD Seal, a left-hand drive car–an adjustment for any Bangladeshi racer. To make things tougher, racers get only 15 minutes to memorize the track layout. And mistakes are punished with immediate penalties.
Her first solo lap didn’t go well. Nerves kicked in. But she regrouped. On her next two laps, she beat drivers from Vietnam and Malaysia to secure 7th place in singles. She finished penalty-free, a rare feat for a newcomer.
In mixed doubles with Rasel Rahman, she showed even more grit. Together, they took 6th place out of eleven teams.
Picture: Kashfia Arfa.
By the time Malaysia’s Festival of Speed arrived, Kashfia was sharper. More confident. And this time, unbeatable. She topped the charts with first place in women’s singles and first in mixed doubles.
Kashfia battled tons of roadblocks to get here. Society judges hard. Few women dive in because of that. She faced negativity head-on. It toughened her up. She worked non-stop. Overcame the shortcomings in tracks and training. Her goal is simple yet powerful: to represent Bangladesh on the world stage and inspire others to step up. She’s already done it once in Vietnam. Fans now watch with growing anticipation for her next races.
