A women’s football match in Bangladesh was canceled after protests by religious groups, marking the second such incident in as many days.
The cancellation, which took place in the northwestern city of Joypurhat, was prompted by protests from students and teachers of religious schools who vandalized the venue.
Protesters Disrupt Football Match
The match was scheduled to be a friendly game between Joypurhat’s district women’s team and a team from nearby Rangpur.
However, a large group of Islamists gathered in a field and marched toward the venue, prompting organizers to cancel the event.
Tournament organizer Samiul Hasan Emon described the situation as worsening quickly, with hundreds of protesters advancing toward the venue.
“Girls’ football is un-Islamic.”
Abu Bakkar Siddique, headmaster of a local religious school, justified his participation in the demonstration, saying it was their religious duty to prevent activities that contradict their beliefs.
He stated, “Girls’ football is un-Islamic. It is our religious duty to stop anything that goes against our beliefs.”
Similar Protests in Dinajpur
According to Al Jazeera, a similar protest occurred the day before in Dinajpur, where another women’s match was postponed. Protesters, some carrying sticks, gathered at the venue and forced organizers to halt the event.
Teacher Moniruzzaman Zia explained that the match had to be suspended just half an hour before kick-off, and the players had to be moved to a safer location.
During the protest, tensions escalated between demonstrators and counter-demonstrators, leading to violent clashes.
According to local government officer Amit Roy, bricks were thrown between the two groups, resulting in four people being injured. He confirmed that all those injured had since been discharged from the hospital.
Bangladesh Football Federation Condemns Attacks
Following the cancellation of the matches, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) strongly condemned the actions of the protesters.
BFF media manager Sadman Sakib reaffirmed that football is a sport for everyone and emphasized that women have full rights to participate in it.
Rising Influence of Islamist Groups
Islamist groups in the country have become more active in recent years, targeting religious minorities.
The recent protests have raised concerns about the future of women’s participation in sports and other public spheres in Bangladesh.
While the country has made progress in promoting women’s rights, these incidents shed light on the ongoing challenges of balancing religious sensitivities with gender equality and personal freedoms.
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