Protests over women’s football match: Section 144 imposed in Taraganj
The imposition has meant that the scheduled women’s football match has been cancelled
Following calls to stop a women's football match in Rangpur's Taraganj, the local administration imposed Section-144 to avoid further chaos.
The imposition has meant that the scheduled women's football match has been cancelled.
A match was supposed to be held between female players from Rajshahi division and Joypurhat at around 3pm today in the inter-district tournament.
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Organisers said the game was scheduled to take place at the Burirhat High School ground in Sawar Union of the upazila.
Ashraf Ali, Taraganj Upazila president of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, however, announced the cancellation of the game through loudspeakers.
He also called for a protest march to stop the game.
Later, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Rubel Rana sat down for discussions with the two parties. At that time, local dignitaries including leaders of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami were called.
After rounds of discussion, the stalemate could not be broken and the matter was reported to the district commissioner.
Later, Section 144 was imposed.
Ashraf Ali said, "Our demand was to stop the game. The administration has stopped the game. We have withdrawn all our programmes."
Nayan Mia, one of the organisers of the game, said the game was organised to entertain football lovers in the area.
But the leader of the Islamic Andolan, Ashraf Ali, did not understand and stopped the game. The players are returning home, he added.
Earlier on 29 January, a scheduled girls' football match between Joypurhat and Rangpur teams was postponed following protests.
Local religious groups gathered at Tilakpur Rail Station's Independence Square and delivered speeches objecting to women's participation in football, even vandalising the match venue. A similar incident also took place in Dinajpur.
The next day, the chief adviser's press wing issued a statement expressing deep concern by reports of incidents of women being prevented from engaging in recreational activities.
"Anyone who imposes their restrictions on girls and women in violation of their rights will be held accountable for their actions according to the laws of Bangladesh," it said.
On 5 February, the match postponed in Joypurhat was successfully held.
