August 4, 2023
DHAKA – Thirty-five women organisations yesterday condemned the attack on four under-17 female footballers by a group of local people for wearing shorts and playing football in Khulna.
“Even after 52 years of independence, such a misogynistic attack on female footballers in an independent and sovereign state is very alarming,” said a statement signed by Rokeya Prachi, executive director of Bangladesh Nari Progoti Sangha.
The statement also read, “Such violent incidents are against women’s equal rights and a gross violation of human rights. It is also against the spirit of the Liberation War.”
The organisations also submitted an application before the home minister, demanding immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved in the incident.
In the statement, they said the girls are also in state of fear and panic due to attacks and threats by the culprits.
On July 29, the four girls — Sadia Nasrin, Mangali Bagchi, Hajera Khatun and Jui – all members of the under-17 Khulna divisional football team, came under attack by a group of people for wearing shorts and playing football at Tentultala village of Khulna’s Batiaghata upazila.
Sadia, who is captain of the team, filed a case on the same night accusing six people– Nur Alam, Alauddin, Salauddin, Nupur Khatun, Ranji Begum and Monwara Begum.