On January 28, 2025, members of an Islamic religious and social group, along with students from local madrasas, under the banner of Touhidi Janata, attacked women's football matches and vandalized football grounds at Tilakpur High School field in Akkelpur Upazila, Joypurhat, and in Hakimpur, Dinajpur district.After the Asr prayer on January 28, the group gathered at Swadhinata Chattar near Tilakpur railway station, where they held a rally and delivered speeches. One cleric stated, "We've heard they are organizing women's football again. Allah commands Muslim women to stay at home and observe purdah (modesty). Bringing these women out and pushing young men toward sin is unacceptable. Those who promote good and forbid evil will succeed. We will not accept women being paraded like this. I warn those trying to profit from exposing women—be cautious." He further warned, "Stop these women's games, or resistance will be organized."
Following the rally, the group marched to Tilakpur High School field and vandalized the tin fencing surrounding the grounds.
Organizers' Perspective
Local organizers reported that the T-Star Club had been conducting a football tournament for about six weeks at Tilakpur High School field, which was enclosed with tin fencing. Tickets were sold at 30 BDT for ground seating and 70 BDT for reserved seats. A match between the Joypurhat and Rangpur women's football teams was scheduled for Wednesday, January 29.
T-Star Club president and Upazila BNP organizational secretary, Samiul Hasan Imon, stated, "On Wednesday afternoon, the Joypurhat and Rangpur women's teams were scheduled to play. After the Asr prayer, worshippers attacked the field and destroyed the tin fencing, causing damage worth over 100,000 BDT."
Accusations Against the Upazila Executive Officer (UNO)
Allegations have surfaced suggesting that the Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) of Akkelpur indirectly supported efforts to halt the women's football match. Maulana Abu Bakr Siddique, Naib-e-Muhtamim of Tilakpur Rabeya Basri Women’s Madrasa, claimed that the UNO advised them to organize a human chain to demand the cancellation of the match.
Abu Bakr Siddique reportedly led the protest and subsequent vandalism. He said, "This wasn't initially a women's tournament, but we heard women would be playing. We submitted an application to the UNO asking to prevent this. The UNO advised us to organize a human chain, which we did on December 25. The match committee president, Imon, assured us they would no longer organize women's football, and we ended the protest. However, when we heard the match would proceed, we informed the UNO again. He sent a team to remove the tin fencing, but when they were stopped, we dismantled the fencing ourselves along with Touhidi Janata and religious scholars."
He further claimed, "Women's football corrupts the youth. Obscene dances and drug use were happening in the name of the game. The government may promote women's football elsewhere, but our people do not accept it here. We stopped it and will continue to prevent it in the future."
UNO's Response
Upazila Executive Officer Manzurul Alam denied any involvement. He stated, "I was unaware of the vandalism until it happened on Wednesday. The claim that I advised organizing a protest against women's football is false. Can anyone stop women's football in Bangladesh? The government encourages it. The application they mentioned was submitted only a few days ago. I was supposed to meet both parties today (Wednesday), but the meeting did not take place."
Clashes in Dinajpur Over Women's Football Match
Meanwhile, on January 28 in Hakimpur, Dinajpur, clashes erupted between the organizing committee and Touhidi Janata over a women's football event, leaving at least 20 people, including women, injured.
The Bawna Student Welfare Cooperative Society had organized a friendly women's football match at the Bawna field, featuring the Dinajpur District Women's Football Academy versus the Rangpur Divisional Women's Team. The event was promoted through loudspeakers. Upon hearing about women's participation, Touhidi Janata used loudspeakers in Bawna and nearby villages to oppose the match, escalating tensions throughout the morning.
When the match began at 3 PM, members of Touhidi Janata attempted to stop it, leading to violent clashes with the organizing committee. At least 20 people were injured, with several requiring hospitalization.
JMBF asserts that the attacks, carried out by members of religious groups and students from local madrasas, which targeted football grounds at Tilakpur High School in Akkelpur Upazila, Joypurhat, and in Hakimpur, Dinajpur, are a blatant attempt to suppress women’s participation in sports, justified under extremist interpretations of religious doctrine. Such actions are not only illegal but also deeply harmful to the progress and empowerment of women in our society.
JMBF calls on the Government of Bangladesh, local authorities, and law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of women players and event organizers, investigate and prosecute those responsible for these attacks to the fullest extent of the law, hold accountable any government officials or institutions found complicit in enabling or supporting such acts of violence and intimidation, and promote and protect women’s rights to participate in sports without fear of violence or discrimination.
Sports are a powerful tool for unity, empowerment, and societal growth. Attempts to suppress women’s participation in football or any other sport are direct attacks on equality and human rights. We urge all as well as the United Nations, European Parliament, intergovernmental and international human rights organizations, communities, and civil society organizations to stand together against such extremism and support the continued growth of women's sports in Bangladesh.
JMBF stands in solidarity with the organizers, players, and communities affected by these incidents. We commend the courage of the T-Star Club, the Bawna Student Welfare Cooperative Society, and all those committed to promoting women’s sports despite these threats.
JMBF remains committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where all players, regardless of gender, can thrive.
Justice delayed is justice denied. We demand justice now.
Thank you,
Mosa Jannatul Ferdaus
Chief Coordinator & Member of the Executive Committee
JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF)
107 Rue Gallieni, 93000 Bobigny, France
Cell/WhatsApp: +33 (0)7 83 95 23 15
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