From an early age, Rafan Mashrur Haque developed a keen interest in world maps and national flags. His curiosity extended far beyond the usual interests of childhood. Whenever he heard the name of a country, he wanted to know where it was located, which countries surrounded it, what its borders looked like, and what its national flag looked like. He was equally fascinated by the similarities and differences between the flags of different countries.
As he spent more time exploring maps, his interest in the geography and flags of countries around the world gradually grew. He began memorising not only the locations of different countries but also the colours, patterns and distinctive features of their flags. Over time, what began as a simple childhood curiosity developed into a remarkable skill. That skill has now earned Rafan international recognition.
A student of Jhenaidah Cadet College, Rafan recently completed his Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination. At the age of 17, he set a record for typing the names of 195 countries after identifying their flags. Using an app called Sporcle, Rafan identified the flags of 195 countries recognised by the United Nations and typed their names on a laptop in just 8 minutes and 1 second. His achievement has been recognised by the Asia Book of Records, which officially confirmed the record on July 14.
Rafan’s journey towards the record, however, began several years before he ever considered attempting one. At that time, there was no specific ambition to enter a record book. There was simply a desire to learn.
From childhood, Rafan would look at maps to understand where different countries were located. Whenever he came across the name of an unfamiliar country, he would try to find it on a map. Similarly, when he saw a particular flag, he would try to identify the country it represented. Gradually, his interest in countries, maps and national flags became an integral part of his learning.
Rafan says his curiosity about the names, locations and flags of different countries encouraged him to regularly explore maps and learn more about the world. He found the designs of national flags particularly interesting. Eventually, he began to think about turning this long-standing interest into a different kind of challenge. That idea led him to start practising how quickly he could identify a country simply by looking at its flag.
Once he decided to pursue the record, Rafan first researched previous records in the same category. He tried to understand how many countries had previously been identified within a given time, what kind of preparation would be required, and how he could improve his own performance. He then began a systematic programme of regular practice.
The Sporcle app became one of his main training tools. He repeatedly practised identifying countries from their flags, focusing not only on accuracy but also on speed. His objective was to reduce the amount of time needed to identify and type the names of all 195 countries. With every practice session, he tried to improve on his previous performance.
Identifying the flags correctly was only one part of the challenge. To complete the task within a record-breaking time, Rafan also needed to type the country names quickly and accurately. His preparation therefore focused on developing both skills simultaneously. He worked on recognising flags almost instantly while also improving his speed and accuracy when typing the country names on a laptop.
He paid particular attention to flags that could easily be confused with one another because of similarities in colour or design. Instead of spending valuable time thinking about each flag during practice, he worked on developing an immediate association between a flag and the country it represented. With repeated practice, the process gradually became faster and more instinctive.
Rafan also closely monitored his performance during practice sessions. By taking the same tests repeatedly, he identified where he was losing time, which countries’ flags took longer to recognise, and where typing errors were most likely to occur. He then devoted additional practice to those weaker areas. This continuous process helped him gradually strengthen both his speed and accuracy.
Eventually, Rafan felt that he was ready to attempt the record. He registered with the Asia Book of Records and took part in the record-setting process according to the prescribed requirements. He successfully identified the flags of 195 countries and typed their names in just 8 minutes and 1 second, establishing a new record.
The Asia Book of Records confirmed the achievement on July 14. For Rafan, earning an international record at just 17 is not only a significant accomplishment but also recognition of years of curiosity, learning and persistent practice.
Interestingly, Rafan’s achievement did not emerge from years of specialised coaching or from a childhood ambition to become a record holder. It began with something much simpler: curiosity. His fascination with maps, his desire to learn where different countries were located, and his interest in remembering the designs of national flags gradually transformed into a specialised skill.
His story also demonstrates how an ordinary interest can develop into an exceptional ability through consistent practice. Knowing the names of countries and recognising their flags was not enough. Rafan worked to turn that knowledge into speed and accuracy. He repeatedly challenged himself to perform better than before, and that disciplined practice ultimately led him to the record.
Rafan’s journey began with a curious child looking at maps and wondering about the countries beyond his own. At the time, he could hardly have imagined that his fascination with the flags of countries around the world would one day earn him international recognition. But by preserving that curiosity, continuing to learn and turning knowledge into skill through regular practice, he has now become a record holder at the age of 17.
His achievement of identifying the flags of 195 countries and typing their names in just 8 minutes and 1 second is therefore about more than speed. It represents the recognition of a long-standing curiosity, a passion for learning, disciplined practice and the determination to continually challenge his own abilities.