Some Muslim devotees and madrasa students carried out vandalism at the Tilakpur High School field in Akkelpur, Joypurhat, in protest against the organization of a women's football match.
The tin fence around the field was destroyed after the Asr prayers on Tuesday. Earlier, they had gathered for a rally at the Swadhinata Chattar.
According to local sources, a friendly women’s football match was scheduled to take place at the Tilakpur High School field on Wednesday. The match was part of an inter-district football tournament organized by the local T-Star Club about a month and a half ago.
Tickets were sold for seating arrangements, with a price of 30 taka for ground seating and 70 taka for chair seating. The final of the tournament was to feature Parbatipur and Joypurhat football teams, and a friendly match between the women’s football teams from Joypurhat and Rangpur was scheduled before the final.
Local people reported that there was dissatisfaction regarding the ticketing arrangements for watching the matches from the ground. Following complaints from locals, the Assistant Commissioner (Land) Monira Sultana tried to remove the tin fence surrounding the field, which led to a confrontation with spectators and organizers.
A local village police officer from the Tilakpur Union Parishad was injured in the incident. This tension eventually led to the vandalism of the tin fence.
On Tuesday afternoon, the vandalism of the fence was livestreamed on Facebook. The footage shows Muslim devotees and madrasa students gathering at the Swadhinata Chattar near the Tilakpur railway station.
Several speakers addressed the crowd, calling for the football match to be stopped, and mentioning the need for women to observe modesty.
One speaker was heard warning those involved in promoting women’s sports: “If you continue to exploit women for profit, be careful. If you don’t stop women’s sports, resistance will be organized.”
After the rally, the protesters marched towards the Tilakpur High School field, where they proceeded to destroy the tin fence.
Samiul Hasan Imon, president of T-Star Club and newly elected organizational secretary of the upazila BNP, said: “The friendly match between Joypurhat and Rangpur women’s football teams was scheduled for Wednesday evening.”
He added: “However, on Tuesday, after the Asr prayers, the protesters attacked the field and destroyed the fence, causing damage worth lakhs of taka.”
Akkelpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Anisur Rahman said: “I am not aware of the match or the vandalism of the fence. The UNO has informed me that he will hold a meeting with the organizers and the protesters on Wednesday.”
Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Monjurul Alam said: “The organizers did not inform me about the women’s football match scheduled for Wednesday. I was not aware of the fence vandalism either. After learning about the dissatisfaction among the organizers and local residents, I have decided to hold a meeting with them on Wednesday.”