What actually happened to the women's U-19 booter in Maheshkhali?

Recently, several online and social media platforms reported that Parveen Sultana, a member of the Bangladesh U-19 women's national football team from Maheshkhali, Cox's Bazar, had the tendon of her leg severed by religious extremists. 

The reports claimed that the attackers believed women's football is "haram" (forbidden in Islam), and therefore targeted Parveen by slashing the tendon in her left leg.

Amid widespread criticism, TBS consulted the local police, public representatives, and members of the civil society in Maheshkhali to uncover the actual events.

According to information gathered from relevant sources, the incident traces back to 14 April. On that day, following an altercation in Uttar Nolbila area of Kalarmarchhara Union in Maheshkhali, a man named Rashid Ahmed was allegedly beaten to death. Two brothers – Amit Iqbal and Kamrul Hasan – residents of the same area and brothers of footballer Parveen Sultana – were accused of being involved in the killing.

Local Union Parishad member Osman Gani stated that the deceased, Rashid Ahmed, was affiliated with the BNP, while one of the accused, Amit Iqbal, was known to be active in the Chhatra League.

Following Rashid Ahmed's death, an angry mob surrounded and vandalised Parveen Sultana's residence. During the attack, Kamrul Hasan was reportedly apprehended by locals and handed over to the police. Eyewitnesses confirmed that during the incident, Amit and Kamrul's mother, Mohsena Begum, and sisters—Parveen Sultana, Tania Akhter Tipu, and Ruzina Begum—were present at the house.

UP Member Osman Gani said, "I was present at the scene on the day Rashid was killed, and the police were there as well. It's possible Parveen was injured in some way during the attack on her home. However, I neither saw nor heard of any incident where religious extremists cut the tendon of her leg."

On the day following the incident, deceased Rashid Ahmed's widow, Khurshida Begum, filed a murder case at Maheshkhali police station, naming eight individuals. Footballer Parveen Sultana was listed as the 5th accused in that case.

Since the 14 April incident, Parveen and her family members have reportedly not been seen in the area, according to Osman Gani.

Later, on 3 June, Parveen gave an interview to a local online news portal, alleging that Parvez Bahini [a local group] leader Parvez and several of his associates attacked her family, assaulted her siblings, looted their home, and severed the tendon in her leg during the assault.

Based on this version of events, Parveen filed a case on 13 May with the Maheshkhali Judicial Magistrate's Court, naming 15 individuals, including deceased Rashid's widow Khurshida Begum and several of her family members.

However, the case statement (FIR) did not mention anything about religious extremists cutting her tendon.

Sub-Inspector Sumit Barua of Maheshkhali police station, who is investigating the case as per the court's directive, confirmed this detail. "The case is still under investigation. Since we have not yet received Parveen's medical report, we have not been able to submit our findings," he said.

SI Sumit further stated, "This is a politically and personally motivated conflict. The claim that extremists cut the tendon of the female footballer is baseless."

Maheshkhali police station OC Manjurul Haque said, "The allegation that religious extremists severed the leg tendon of a female footballer is completely untrue. The complainant is an accused in the Rashid murder case. She filed a separate case in court two months ago, and that investigation is ongoing."