Women’s football matches: Rights orgs, BFF condemn attacks

Rights organisations strongly condemned the recent disruptions and violence targeting women's football matches in Joypurhat and Dinajpur.

Quoting news reports, they mentioned that in Joypurhat, a girls' football match at Tilakpur High School field was disrupted when vandals damaged the venue.

Similarly, in Dinajpur's Hakimpur upazila, a women's football match ended in clashes that injured at least 20 people.

Both incidents were reportedly fueled by groups opposing women's participation in sports, undermining their right to recreation and empowerment.

"We believe sports is a powerful tool for the empowerment of women and girls, fostering confidence, leadership, and social inclusion," said Manusher Jonno Foundation Executive Director Shaheen Anam in a statement.

She described the disruptions as unacceptable in a country committed to gender equality and women's empowerment as constitutional and policy imperatives.

Bangladesh Mahila Parishad echoed similar concerns, emphasising the alarming nature of such misogynistic and fundamentalist attacks at a time when Bangladeshi women are excelling in sports both nationally and internationally.

"It is particularly concerning that, despite bringing glory to the country by winning international titles, women's sports face such regressive attacks in a sovereign and independent nation," the organisation said in a press release signed by President Fauzia Moslem and General Secretary Maleka Banu.

Both organisations urged local administrations and law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of women in sports and take strict action against those responsible for inciting violence.

BLAST in another statement mentioned that this type of anarchy surrounding women's football matches is truly deplorable and entirely contradictory to Articles 19 (equality of opportunity), 27 (equality before the law), and 28 (prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, etc.) of the Constitution.

"Additionally, it is a punishable offence under the country's existing criminal laws and goes completely against the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)," it added.The organisations called on community leaders, civil society organisations, and policymakers to stand against regressive forces threatening women's rights and progress.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) in a press statement said it disapproves of the vandalisation that took place centring women's football matches.

"Football is for everyone and women footballers have all the right to play sports. To create barriers in women's sports is against the development of sports. The Bangladesh Football Federation believes that everyone must come forward to continue the participation of women in sports," it said.

"We urge the authorities concerned to carry out a proper investigation and take necessary steps and ensure that no obstacles are created for women to play football.