Bangladesh girls forced to cancel football amid Islamist threats

Asha Roy, 17, had been eagerly anticipating a women's football tournament, but her hopes were dashed when the competition was called off due to interference from Islamists. This incident occurred in northern Bangladesh, highlighting the rising influence of religiously conservative forces in the region. This growing influence poses a threat to the freedom and opportunities of young women in the area.

Shortly before the tournament was scheduled to begin, an organization called the Islami Andolan Bangladesh announced it would hold a protest rally in the Rangpur district, opposing the event on the grounds that it was "incompatible with Islamic teachings." Fearing potential clashes, local police intervened and asked the female football team members to return home for their own safety. The police's intervention underscored the tension between religious conservatism and women's empowerment in the region.

Ms. Roy told the BBC: "I felt both frustrated and scared. We have never encountered anything like this before. It was very disappointing to return without participating in the tournament." Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority country, is currently in a period of political transition following mass protests that ousted its autocratic government last year. While an interim government is now in power, there are concerns that previously marginalized Islamist groups are once again becoming emboldened. The political uncertainty is further fueling the rise of conservative elements.

The cancellation of this women's football tournament is the third similar incident in northern Bangladesh in nearly two weeks due to opposition from religious hardliners. In Dinajpur, about 70 kilometers from Rangpur, clashes broke out between Islamists protesting the tournament and local residents supporting it, resulting in four injuries. For girls like Asha Roy from rural areas, football and other sports are avenues for female empowerment and escaping poverty. High-performing girls can be selected for sponsored teams and even have the opportunity to represent Bangladesh in international competitions, making sports a vital path to upward mobility.

The success of the national women's football team has inspired many girls to participate in the sport, and they are regarded as heroes after winning the South Asian Football Championship twice in a row in recent years. Ms. Roy's teammate, Musammat Tara Moni, said that despite the threats, she will not stop playing football. "My dream is to represent the national team. My family supports me, so I will not lose hope," the 16-year-old said. Their coach, Nurul Islam, said he was surprised by the objections. "I have led the team to many tournaments in the past seven years, but this is the first time we have encountered something like this," he said. The team's determination reflects a broader resistance to the suppression of women's aspirations.

Islamists insist that the tournament they prevented violated their religious values and stated that they are determined to prevent any future football matches. "If women want to play football, they should cover their whole bodies and only play in front of female audiences. Men cannot watch them play," Maulana Ashraf Ali, a leader of the Islami Andolan Bangladesh in Rangpur's Taraganj area, told the BBC. Mr. Ali also insisted that the organization "absolutely" wants to implement strict Islamic Sharia law in Bangladesh. Their stance highlights the fundamental differences in values between conservative groups and those advocating for gender equality.

The cancellation of the women's football tournament caused an uproar on social media, leading authorities to reorganize one of the matches. They have also launched investigations into these incidents but said concerns about radicalism are being exaggerated. Shafiqul Alam, media secretary to interim leader Mohammad Yunus, told the BBC: "The claim that the government is catering to Islamists is baseless." Mr. Alam pointed out that hundreds of women's sports competitions were held during the National Youth Festival in January, and these events proceeded smoothly across the country without any problems. The government's response aims to reassure the public and downplay the extent of Islamist influence.

But some are not reassured. Samina Luthfa, an assistant professor of sociology at Dhaka University, told the BBC that the cancellation of the women's football tournament is "absolutely worrying." She said: "Women in Bangladesh will not stop playing football, nor will they stop working or doing their things." She added that "everyone will fight back" against attempts to remove women from public spaces. Other decisions made regarding Islamic extremism since the interim government took office in August have also raised concerns. The cancellation has sparked a broader debate about the role of women in Bangladeshi society.

These include the lifting of a ban on the country's largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, which was imposed in the final days of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government. Jashim Uddin Rahmani, the leader of the banned Islamist militant group Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), was released in August after a court granted him bail. He had been sentenced to five years in prison in connection with the 2013 murder of a secular blogger but had remained in custody due to other pending cases. These actions have fueled concerns about the government's commitment to countering extremism.

According to local media reports, several other individuals accused of having links to extremist groups have also been granted bail in recent months. "Although security forces say they will monitor those who have been released, given the limitations, it is difficult for them to monitor everyone," said Dr. Tawhidul Haque, a crime analyst at Dhaka University. While most Bangladeshis adhere to moderate Islam, and secular values dominate society, Islamic extremism is not new to the country. A decade ago, religious zealots targeted secular bloggers, atheists, minorities, foreigners, and others in a series of attacks that killed dozens and forced others to flee abroad. The historical context underscores the ongoing threat of extremism in the country.

In one such incident, a group of Islamist gunmen attacked the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka in 2016, killing 20 people. And it's not just women's football matches that have come under attack recently. Last week, dozens of Islamist students vandalized a book stall at Dhaka's prestigious Ekushey Book Fair. Protesters were angered by the display of works by exiled feminist writer Taslima Nasrin, who has faced death threats from Islamist groups in the past for what they say are blasphemous writings. Mohammad Yunus condemned the incident, saying the attack "shows disregard for the rights of Bangladeshi citizens and the laws of our country." Police are investigating. These incidents highlight the ongoing struggle for freedom of expression in Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Pori Moni, one of the country's most famous actresses, said she was prevented from opening a department store in the northern town of Tangail after reportedly facing opposition from religious groups. "Now I really feel helpless and insecure. Attending the opening of showrooms or similar events is part of my job. No one has ever stopped me in these years," Ms. Moni told BBC Bangla. Similar events involving two other actresses, Apu Biswas and Mehazabien Chowdhury, were also canceled following threats from Islamists. These incidents demonstrate the growing pressure on public figures, particularly women, to conform to conservative norms.

Minority groups such as Sufi Muslims say they have also witnessed an increasing number of attacks on their places of worship. Islamic extremists consider Sufism to be heretical. "In the last six months, about a hundred of our shrines [mazars] and centers have been attacked," Anisur Rahman Jafri, secretary-general of the Sufi World Forum, told the BBC. "We have never seen this sudden extremist attack since the country's independence in 1971," he added, warning that the country faces the risk of "Talibanization" if this continues. Police said only 40 shrines had been vandalized and that they had stepped up security around religious sites. The attacks on Sufi shrines highlight the vulnerability of religious minorities to extremist violence.

Authorities have been struggling to maintain law and order since Sheikh Hasina left office. Earlier this month, thousands of protesters vandalized homes and buildings linked to Hasina and senior leaders of her Awami League party. People from other groups and parties, including Islamists, have also joined other demonstrations in the capital Dhaka and across the country. Authorities defended the security forces' lack of intervention, saying it would have resulted in casualties. The widespread unrest underscores the political instability and social tensions in Bangladesh.

Human rights organizations have expressed concern about the security situation. "If the government does not take action, then Islamists will feel emboldened. Women and girls will self-censor even more, and they will be even more afraid to participate in public events," Shirin Huq, a prominent women's rights activist, told the BBC. "I am still optimistic that this phenomenon will not last," she added. Additional reporting for this story was provided by the BBC Bangla service in Dhaka. The future of women's rights and secular values in Bangladesh remains uncertain amid the rise of religious extremism.