Torsa etches her name in Guinness Records

Ladakh, a stunning mountainous region in India, is home to Urming La, known as the highest drivable road globally, reaching a staggering altitude of around 19,024 feet above sea level. During the Vibrant Ladakh Festival of 2023, something truly remarkable unfolded -- an international fashion show against this breathtaking backdrop. Among the highlights was Rafah Nanjeba Torsa, crowned Miss World Bangladesh 2019, making history by entering the Guinness Book of World Records at this prestigious event.

Rafah Nanjeba Torsa is the first model of Bangladesh who sets her name in the Guinness Book of World's Records. Recently she talked to this writer about her journey and achievement to that festival. She said, "In February 2023, I received an email where I got the proposal to participate in that show and I formally replied about my willingness to participate there. In May of that year, I was called for an interview and I was asked about my different social projects in the viva. Finally, I was selected to participate in the international fashion show to celebrate the presidency of the G-20 summit as well as representing Bangladesh worldwide. There were many representatives in that programme and all of them represented their countries fantastically. The participants were basically from the member countries of G-20 summit."

Torsa also described her unique experience regarding the environment of Ladakh. She said, "The environment was extremely harsh. But as the scenario was beautiful, I may say that it was a beautiful disaster to me. From Bangladesh, I directly went to Delhi and from there I went to Hanle village of Ladakh and it was almost 10,000 feet high from the sea level. Though I did not feel bad at first, after some time, I felt a very bad headache. Also I felt extreme pain in my body and for that I was given an injection and had to rest for several hours. They were also informed that two people died from silent heart attacks just one week ago."

She added, "Most challenges came due to the extremely cold environment of Ladakh and the temperature was in the negative degree celsius. Especially at night, the intensity of cold was acute and we were told to store water as the water from outside would be converted to ice in the morning. Another complexity at Urming La was paucity of oxygen. The level of oxygen is 50 per cent or lower than that in the place and so we all had to face breathing issues." Despite these challenges she completed her journey.

In the area of Urming La and its surrounding regions, there were few locations with reliable cell phone reception. Moreover, the electricity supply in the region was often prone to fluctuations, making it more challenging for residents and visitors to depend on stable power sources.

Experiencing that picturesque place of Ladakh, Torsa said, "Though I was also dehydrated from the extreme heat, I must appreciate the beauty of the place. The place was calm, soothing, and scenic. There were a lot of temples. The residents of Urming La were basically Buddhists and we talked to them about environmental and policy making issues."

Looking forward, Torsa was asked about her contributions during the summit. In response, she outlined three key areas of focus: policy-making, enhancing women's representation on the global stage, and prioritising climate change and green energy initiatives. Stressing the pivotal role of women in achieving balanced economic growth, she emphasised her efforts to address this issue at the summit.

Torsa further acknowledged the invaluable support she received from the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) during her journey. Serving as a brand ambassador for the organisation, she also highlighted her representation of Bangladesh's ready-made garment industry and its commitment to green practices, aiming to familiarise foreign buyers and investors with the industry's advancements.

When asked about how such a summit could bring economic benefits to Bangladesh, Torsa replied, "It will create economic advantages in multiple ways. First of all, it will help to grow the business sectors of Bangladesh. As an ambassador of Bangladesh, I highlighted booming sectors to the foreign countries which will definitely help us to introduce our products globally. Also, I represented our traditions through jamdani sari, gamcha cloths, nakshikantha, jute products which attracted the summit attendees."

She shared, "As Miss Bangladesh, I represented our nation and took the opportunity to showcase our strengths whenever I engaged with foreign dignitaries. This could foster joint collaborations, inform policy-making, and enhance foreign relations in business and beyond. I firmly believe that such summits play a crucial role in acquainting foreign policymakers, entrepreneurs, and government representatives with our country, potentially piquing their interest in investing or establishing ventures here."

The writer is an MBA student at the Department of Banking and Insurance at University of Chittagong. [email protected]