Monika Chakma
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Chakma in 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 15 September 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Khagrachhari, Chattogram, Bangladesh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.45 m (4 ft 9 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Farashganj | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2024 | Bashundhara Kings | 34 | (10) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | Royal Thimphu College Women's FC | 2 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025–2026 | Paro FC Women | 9 | (11) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2026– | Farashganj | 8 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2016 | Bangladesh U14 | 10 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2018 | Bangladesh U16 | 11 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | Bangladesh U19 | 8 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019– | Bangladesh | 42 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Bangladesh futsal | 3 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16 February 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 12 March 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Monika Chakma (Chakma: 𑄟𑄧𑄚𑄨𑄇 𑄌𑄋𑄴𑄟𑄳𑄦; Bengali: মনিকা চাকমা; born 15 September 2003) is a women's professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Bangladesh women's national football team.
Monika gained recognition in 2019 when she scored a goal against Mongolia during the Bangamata U-19 Women's International Gold Cup. Popularly known by the nickname "Magical Chakma".[2][3], she has also played for the Bangladesh women's national futsal team.
Early life and education
Monika Chakma was born on September 15, 2003, in Sumontpara, Lakshmichhari, located in the Khagrachari district of the Chattogram Division, Bangladesh. She is the youngest of five daughters of Bindu Kumar Chakma and Robi Mala Chakma. Her elder sister is Anika Chakma.[4]
She is currently an undergraduate student of American International University, Bangladesh.[5]
Early career
Monika Chakma first competed in the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Football Tournament in 2010, held at Marachengi Government Primary School in Lakshmichhari. In 2012, she relocated to Chattogram, where Rangamati Maghachari facilitated her admission to Rangamati Maghachari Government Primary School. Representing her school in the 2013 Bangamata Football Tournament, she achieved runner-up status at the national level.[6]
Club career
Paro
In 2025, Monika signed with Bhutan Women's National League club Paro FC.[7]
Farashganj
She joined Farashganj in the 2025–26 Bangladesh Women's Football League.[8] She scored her first goal in her debut for the club.[9][10]
International career
Chakma was first selected for the Bangladesh Under-14 team, where she contributed three goals and helped secure the Fair Play trophy for a third-place finish in the 2012 AFC Tournament in Sri Lanka.[11] She later represented Bangladesh in the Asian Under-14 Championship in Thailand and competed in the Bangamata U-19 Women's International Gold Cup, where she scored a goal against Mongolia in the semi-finals. This goal led to Bangladesh being featured in FIFA's "Fans' Favorite" page, and FIFA recognized her skill with the title "Magical Chakma." Monika completed her Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) in Humanities from Monica Ghagra College, following her studies at Rangamati Ghagra High School.[12]
She joined the police force in January 2018 while continuing her education in computer in a polytechnic institute.
Career statistics
International
- As of match played 5 July 2025
- Scores and results list Bangladesh's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Monika Chakma goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 June 2022 | Bir Sherestha Shaheed Shipahi Mostafa Kamal Stadium, Dhaka, Bangladesh | Malaysia | 5–0 | 6–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 10 September 2022 | Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal | Pakistan | 1–0 | 6–0 | 2022 SAFF Women's Championship |
| 3 | 30 October 2024 | Nepal | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2024 SAFF Women's Championship | |
| 4 | 5 July 2025 | Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar | Turkmenistan | 4–0 | 7–0 | 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification |
See also
References
- ^ "2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup Squad Lists" (PDF). Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ^ Report, Star Online (May 4, 2019). "Monika's super effort in FIFA's list of 'favourite' moments". The Daily Star.
- ^ "Wonder Monika strike features in Fifa Fans' Favorite". Dhaka Tribune. May 4, 2019.
- ^ খাগড়াছড়ির তিন ফুটবল কন্যা [Khagrachori's three football daughters]. Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). Retrieved 2019-05-31.
- ^ "Congratulation! The Bangladesh Women's Football Team for winning the SAFF Women's Championship 2022". www.aiub.edu. AIUB. 20 September 2022. Archived from the original on 29 July 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
- ^ "Monika Chakma: Taking Bangladesh football to the next level". The Business Standard. March 27, 2020.
- ^ "Five more Bangladeshi women footballer head to Bhutan for National League". The Business Standard. April 13, 2025. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
- ^ "ফরাশগঞ্জে মারিয়া তহুরা মনিকারা আছেন নেপালি ফুটবলাররাও". দৈনিক সংগ্রাম (in Bengali). 27 December 2025. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
- ^ Dhaka Post (1 January 2026). "তহুরা-শামসুন্নাহারের হ্যাটট্রিকে ফরাশগঞ্জের গোলবন্যা" (in Bengali). Dhaka Post. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
- ^ Sports Reporter (1 January 2026). "Shamsunnahar Jr, Tohura run riot in Rangers rout". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
- ^ মনিকার জার্সি বদল! জাতীয় ফুটবলার থেকে পুলিশ [Monika's jersey changed! Police from the national footballer]. Daily Janakantha (in Bengali). Retrieved 2019-05-31.
- ^ ‘ম্যাজিক্যাল চাকমা’ কিশোরী মনিকা ['Magical Chakma' Monika] (in Bengali). Ekushey TV. Retrieved 2019-05-31.