How one gym and its owner sparked Bangladesh’s powerlifting revolution

If you walk into Adabor's Metal Cave gym after 5pm on a weekday, you will run into the usual gym stereotypes: some chasing the pump, there solely to build bigger muscles; some running on the treadmill to lose weight; while others are there just to become "fit". 

But if you go upstairs, you will come across a different breed of gymgoers altogether, known as powerlifters, who are there only for one goal: to lift as heavy as possible. 

How heavy is heavy enough? That depends on the weight class they are competing in, but  deadlifting twice one's bodyweight is considered a respectable number. For competing powerlifters, that value could go even above 2.5 times one's bodyweight — so, a 90kg individual might deadlift more than 225kg. 

Though powerlifting is still a niche sport in the country, it has quietly been gaining popularity for the past five years, with Bangladeshi athletes even competing at the international level now. 

And it is from Metal Cave that the sport made its way to other gyms across the country. 

The man behind the movement

"I first came across an advertisement in 2018 for a powerlifting competition," recalls 48-year-old Atiqur Rahman, the owner of Metal Cave. 

"The International Powerlifting Federation had been established back in 1972. In Bangladesh, its local chapter — the Bangladesh Powerlifting Association — hadn't yet been formally set up, but competitions were being organised under private initiatives," he added. 

At that time, a young man named Adib Jihan, aged around 20 to 22, used to train at Metal Cave. 

"I told him to register for the competition — I would be his coach. He took part in the 66kg weight category and became the champion. The following year, I decided to compete myself," said Atiqur. 

"Since there was no one in my age group, I entered the regular category instead of the masters [category for older athletes]. Later, in the masters' category, I became champion three consecutive times between 2022 and 2024, and even set a record by deadlifting 245kg," he added.

"After that," Atiqur said, "the organisers offered me a position to work with them, and I agreed. Together, we formed the Bangladesh Powerlifting Association [BPA]. I now serve as its deputy general secretary."

From heartbreak to heavy weights

From a young age, Atiqur was passionate about sports, though his parents were displeased and insisted he focus on his studies.

He played football in inter-school tournaments. When Bangladesh won the ICC Trophy in 1997, his attention shifted towards cricket. He was a pace bowler — until injury struck. 

The setback ended his cricketing hopes and filled him with frustration. That, however, turned out to be the turning point in his life — the seed of his future was sown there.

A local elder named Mehedi advised him to visit a gym. "After going there for a few days, I really started to like working out," Atiqur said. "Favourable genetics allowed me to progress faster than others in the gym."

Then came tragedy. His father, Abdul Khalek, suddenly died of a heart attack. "That forced me to stop indulging in what seemed like a luxurious hobby," Atiqur recalled. "As the eldest son, I had to look for a job — that's what happens in middle-class families."

He began working as a junior merchandiser at a buying house in Banani and continued for about eight years. Financial stability followed suit. "I even turned my father's tin-shed house into a six-storey building," he says. "But over time I realised this job meant constant work, endless worry, and immense pressure. I couldn't spend time with my wife and children. My health deteriorated too."

Soon after, a medical check-up revealed high cholesterol. "The doctor warned me that I was heading for a heart attack. When he learnt I was not engaged in any physical activity at all, he was shocked — he told me I wouldn't live long that way."

The history of Bangladeshi powerlifting and Metal Cave gym are inseparable — one cannot be written without the other. That is my greatest achievement.

Atiqur Rahman, owner, Metal Cave Gym and Powerlifter

By then, Atiqur was married (he tied the knot in 2005) and father to a son and a daughter. For the sake of his family, he decided to change professions. 

In the Bangladeshi context, making such a shift at the age of 40 is almost unheard of. His mother, Delowara Begum, strongly opposed the idea, but he trusted his instincts.

"Sports came from my heart," he says. "Working out also felt like a form of sport. So I decided to open a gym. I sold a plot of land in Purbachal and used some savings to start my business in 2016."

Though his income from the gym does not match what he earned while working for the buying house, it is enough to run his family comfortably. He also earns rent from his building. Most importantly, he has freed himself from the mental stress and physical ailments that once plagued him.

Atiqur obtained a certificate from the National Council of Strength and Fitness based in the US in 2018. He is now a certified personal trainer and powerlifting coach, as well as a certified referee in the sport.

Why powerlifting?

Powerlifting, as mentioned earlier, is all about lifting as heavy as possible. Each athlete has to perform three lifts — the squat, the bench press and deadlift — taking three attempts at each. The heaviest successful lift in each exercise is counted, and the total of all three determines the final score.

Those who find joy in lifting weights and testing their strength often get drawn to powerlifting. The difference between general fitness training and powerlifting, as Atiqur explained, lies in the purpose. 

"General workouts are mainly to keep the body healthy and attractive," he says. "But powerlifting is a sport. Like any sport, you need regular practice, dedication, discipline, and focus to excel.

"Often we need to lift heavy objects from the floor," Atiqur explained. "We lift things or even children over our heads. We push heavy furniture from one place to another. Powerlifting teaches balance and body control, which helps prevent falls and injuries. It also improves flexibility."

He added, "First of all, this sport, like any other, is competitive and fun. To do well, you must maintain discipline in food and lifestyle. It gives you strength, capability and a disease-free life. It increases your testosterone, builds muscles, strengthens bones, and preserves youth and energy. That boosts your confidence and even earns you respect in your social and family circles. Your confidence can influence others as well."

The rise of powerlifting in Bangladesh

The first powerlifting competition in Bangladesh took place in 2018, largely through the personal initiative of Mominul Haque Ron, the founding secretary of the Bangladesh Powerlifting Association, under the banner of his organisation M360 Degree.

"In just seven years," Atiqur says, "we now have five competitions every year. These include women's, university-level, and age-based events. In addition, irregular divisional competitions are held outside Dhaka."

So far, in the World Powerlifting Championship, Bangladesh has won one silver and one bronze medal; in the Asian Powerlifting Championship, three gold, five silver, and three bronze; and in the Asian-African-Pacific Powerlifting Championship, nine gold, one silver, and two bronze.

Photo: Mehedi Hasan

Powerlifter Aditya Parvez has been crowned overall champion in the National Powerlifting Competition for five consecutive years. He also won a bronze medal at the Asian Championship. 

He noted that the sport is gaining popularity among young people in Bangladesh, "Many people aged 16–17 are now getting into powerlifting. It's a very positive trend. Those who train properly and follow the rules are less likely to get injured. But if someone trains without proper knowledge, injuries are, of course, quite likely."

Twenty-two-year-old Tasbihun Noor Tulona shed light on women's powerlifting.

"For women, taking up powerlifting is tough. Socially, it's not always viewed positively, and that discourages many. But despite all that, I've kept going. This July, I became the junior champion at the Asian Powerlifting Championship in Japan. The next one will be held in China next year, and I'm training with the goal of breaking records there.

"In terms of progress over time," Atiqur noted, "our success in powerlifting is quite encouraging, although we've never really been blessed with much media attention."

He continued, "In Bangladesh, it's still not possible to take up powerlifting as a profession. Only a few players earn decently through coaching, but the number is still small. A sport becomes a profession when sponsors come forward. In Bangladesh, people's interest outside football and cricket is low, so sponsors are also not as interested."

However, Atiqur believes powerlifting's position is not the worst among unconventional sports. Over the last decade, the number of gyms across the country has increased tremendously. A large gym community has formed, and thanks to social media, everyone knows each other. 

Yet challenges remain, especially when it comes to competing abroad. 

"When we compete overseas, athletes have to bear their own expenses," Atiqur said. "As a result, many talented individuals are deprived of international medals simply due to financial limitations. If corporate sponsors came forward, our athletes would be far more motivated, and Bangladesh would have produced players with even better genetics and abilities."

He proudly mentioned that Metal Cave has produced the highest number of powerlifters, won the most medals, and earned the title of the best gym. 

They were the first commercial gym in Bangladesh to include a deadlift platform and calibrated plates. Metal Cave has also played a vital role for the sport by providing equipment for national competitions. 

"The history of Bangladeshi powerlifting and Metal Cave are inseparable — one cannot be written without the other. That is my greatest achievement," Atiqur said. 

His aspirations are much broader than his own achievements. 

"I want our youth, as a nation, not to lag behind the world in the game of strength. It will give them confidence — a belief that yes, we can. I don't want our young people to carry any sense of inferiority about their physical abilities. I want to see them return as world champions so that no one can ever say Bangladeshis are weak or incapable in the sport of strength."