Attacks and vandalism over demand to stop women's football matches in Dinajpur and Joypurhat

Attacks and vandalism occurred by Tauhidi Janata demanding the halt of women's football matches in Hakimpur of Dinajpur and Akkelpur of Joypurhat. In the Baona area of Hakimpur upazila in Dinajpur, a protest was staged on the field under the banner of Tauhidi Janata on Tuesday (January 28) afternoon to stop a women's football match. At one stage of an argument with the organizers, a clash broke out between the two sides, leaving six people injured. Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Amit Roy and Hakimpur Police Station OC Sujon Miah visited the hospital to see the injured.

The OC said, "Action will be taken against those involved in the incident upon investigation." Local sources said that one faction had been opposing this women's football match organized by the youth since before it began, holding processions and submitting memoranda demanding the cancellation of the match. Among the injured in the clash, one person sustained a severe head injury, which a doctor said requires a CT scan.

On the other hand, a friendly match between the Joypurhat and Rangpur women's football teams was scheduled to take place on Wednesday (January 29) at the Tilakpur High School ground in Akkelpur upazila of Joypurhat. However, the situation heated up on Tuesday (January 28) afternoon due to a protest by Tauhidi Janata. A section of devotees marched to the field and vandalized the tin fencing. Samiul Hasan, president of the organizing T-Star Club, stated that the attack caused damages worth over one hundred thousand taka.

He further said, "This attack was deliberately carried out to obstruct the organization of the women's football match." During the gathering, the devotees claimed that women's sports are anti-Islamic and called upon the organizers to remain cautious. Source: Bangla Tribune, Prothom Alo