Dhaka: A women's football match scheduled to take place in Joypurhat, northern Bangladesh, was cancelled on Wednesday after protests by Islamist hardliners forced organisers to call off the event. This is the second such incident in two days, raising concerns about the growing influence of religious movements in the country.

The friendly match was to feature the women's football teams of Joypurhat and neighbouring Rangpur. However, escalating tensions led to the cancellation.

"The Islamists in our area gathered in a field and marched toward the venue. There were hundreds of them," said Samiul Hasan Emon, the tournament organiser.

"The situation worsened, and we had to cancel today's event."

Religious opposition 

Abu Bakkar Siddique, the headmaster of a local Islamic school, confirmed his participation in the protests alongside students and teachers from several madrassas.

"Girls' football is un-Islamic," Siddique stated. "It is our religious duty to stop anything that goes against our beliefs."

The demonstration in Joypurhat mirrors an incident from the previous day in the nearby city of Dinajpur, where another women's football match was postponed following similar protests.

"The match was suspended half an hour before it was supposed to kick off. We had to quickly move the girls to a safer place," said Moniruzzaman Zia, a teacher involved in the Dinajpur event.

Clashes and injuries in Dinajpur

The Dinajpur protest turned violent, with clashes breaking out between demonstrators and counter-protesters. Bricks were reportedly thrown during the confrontation, resulting in four people being injured.

"All those injured have since been discharged from hospital," said local government officer Amit Roy.

Condemnation from football authorities

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) swiftly condemned the incidents.

"Football is for everyone, and women have full rights to participate in it," said BFF media manager Sadman Sakib in a statement.

Rising influence of Islamist movements

Analysts attribute the growing boldness of Islamist movements in Bangladesh to the ouster of former autocratic Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year. Under Hasina’s leadership, these groups faced years of suppression in the Muslim-majority nation.

Recently, Islamist groups have been accused of targeting Sufi shrines and campaigning against public conduct that deviates from their orthodox interpretation of Islam. These incidents reflect a broader societal struggle over women’s rights and religious orthodoxy in Bangladesh.

AFP