Anna 
Asha Roy, 17, was eager to play in a women’s football tournament in northern Bangladesh, but her excitement quickly turned to disappointment when the match was canceled due to Islamist opposition.
Just before the game was set to begin earlier this month, the Islami Andolan Bangladesh group announced a protest in Rangpur region, claiming the event was un-Islamic. Local police intervened, and the women’s team members were sent home for their safety. Roy expressed frustration and fear, telling the BBC, “We had never faced such a situation before. It was disappointing that we came back without playing.”
Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority country, is in a period of political change after protests last year led to the fall of its authoritarian government. An interim administration is currently in charge, but there are concerns that Islamist groups, once on the fringes, have gained influence once again.
This was the third women’s football match canceled in northern Bangladesh in less than two weeks due to opposition from religious extremists. In Dinajpur, about 70 km west of Rangpur, Islamists clashed with locals who supported the match, injuring four people.
For girls like Asha Roy, football is a key opportunity for empowerment and a path out of poverty. Talented players can be recruited for sponsored teams and even represent Bangladesh internationally. Many young women have been inspired by the national team’s success, including their two recent South Asia Football Championship victories.
Despite the protests, Roy’s teammate, Musammat Tara Moni, 16, vowed to continue playing. “It’s my dream to represent our national team. My family supports me, so I am not losing hope,” she said.
Coach Nurul Islam expressed surprise at the protests. “I have taken the team to many tournaments over the past seven years, but it’s the first time we’ve faced a situation like this.”
The Islamists behind the protests insist the matches go against their religious values. Maulana Ashraf Ali, leader of the Islami Andolan Bangladesh in Rangpur, said women playing football should cover their bodies completely and play only in front of female spectators. He added that the group seeks to impose strict Islamic Sharia law in Bangladesh.
The cancellation sparked an outcry on social media, prompting authorities to reschedule one of the matches. An investigation into the incidents is underway, but the government insists fears of rising radicalism are exaggerated. Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to interim leader Muhammad Yunus, said the cancellation does not reflect government pandering to Islamists. He pointed to the successful national youth festival in January, which saw hundreds of women’s sports matches held across the country without incident.
However, some are still concerned. Samina Luthfa, a sociology professor at the University of Dhaka, called the cancellations “alarming” and emphasized that women in Bangladesh will not stop playing football or engaging in public life. “Everyone will fight to prevent efforts to push women out of public spaces,” she said.
Concerns over rising Islamist influence extend beyond sports. Since the interim government took power in August, it has rolled back certain measures, including lifting a ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami party and releasing Jashimuddin Rahmani, leader of a banned militant group, Ansarullah Bangladesh. This has raised fears of a resurgence of extremist activity.
Islamic extremism is not new to Bangladesh. In recent years, religious extremists have targeted secular bloggers, minorities, and others. In 2016, a deadly attack at Dhaka’s Holey Artisan Bakery claimed 20 lives.
Islamists are also targeting other aspects of society. Last week, a group of Islamist students vandalized a bookstall at Dhaka’s Ekushey Book Fair in protest of a book by exiled feminist author Taslima Nasrin. Police are investigating the incident.
In a separate case, actress Pori Moni was prevented from inaugurating a department store in Tangail due to objections from religious groups. She expressed feeling “helpless and insecure,” saying this was the first time such an incident had happened in her career. Other actors, including Apu Biswas and Mehazabien Chowdhury, have also faced canceled events due to Islamist threats.
Sufi Muslims, a minority group in Bangladesh, are also facing increased attacks on their places of worship. Anisur Rahman Jafri, Secretary General of the Sufism Universal Foundation, reported that around 100 Sufi shrines have been attacked in the past six months, warning that Bangladesh could be at risk of becoming like Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
In response, police have stepped up security around religious sites, but they have only confirmed 40 shrines were damaged.
The political situation in Bangladesh remains tense, with protests against the interim government and violent demonstrations occurring across the country. Authorities have defended security forces for not intervening, saying that doing so could have led to further violence.
Human rights groups are concerned about the growing power of Islamists. Women’s rights activist Shireen Huq warned that if the government does not take action, women and girls will face greater intimidation in public spaces. However, she remains hopeful that this trend will not continue.
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