A women’s football match in Bangladesh was cancelled on Wednesday after Islamist hardliners staged protests, marking the second such incident in recent days.
The match between district teams from Joypurhat and Rangpur was called off after demonstrators, including Islamic school students and teachers, marched toward the venue in opposition to women’s participation in football.
“The Islamists in our area gathered in a field and marched toward the venue. There were hundreds of them,” tournament organiser Samiul Hasan Emon told AFP. “The situation worsened, and we had to cancel today’s event.”
Growing influence of Islamist groups
The protest was led by religious hardliners who claim that women’s football is against Islamic principles.
“Girls’ football is un-Islamic,” said Abu Bakkar Siddique, a madrassa headmaster who participated in the demonstration. “It is our religious duty to stop anything that goes against our beliefs.”
A similar incident occurred a day earlier in the nearby city of Dinajpur, where another women’s match was postponed following protests by Islamists wielding sticks. Authorities had to evacuate players for their safety, according to teacher Moniruzzaman Zia.
During the Dinajpur protest, clashes erupted between Islamist demonstrators and counter-protesters, with both groups throwing bricks. Local government officer Amit Roy confirmed that four people were injured, though all had been discharged from the hospital.
Bangladesh football federation condemns protest
The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) condemned the disruption, emphasising the right of women to participate in sports.
“Football is for everyone, and women have full rights to participate in it,” BFF media manager Sadman Sakib said in a statement.
The incidents come amid a noticeable rise in the influence of Islamist groups in Bangladesh, particularly following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year.
