Desk Report: In Rangpur, local authorities have imposed Section 144 at a stadium following tensions and obstruction of an inter-district women’s football tournament. The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon at Burirhat High School ground in Taraganj.
The match between the Joypurhat women’s team and the Rajshahi women’s team was scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM. However, Ashraf Ali, the president of the Taraganj unit of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, announced through a microphone that the women’s football match should be stopped.
He also called for a protest march against the event. This led to a heated confrontation between the tournament organizers and members of the Islami Andolan.
To resolve the situation, Taraganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Rubel Rana held discussions with representatives from both sides, including local dignitaries.
However, neither side was willing to compromise. To prevent further escalation, the local administration canceled the match and imposed Section 144 at the stadium.
The organizers stated that the inter-district football tournament has been held annually at Burirhat High School ground. This year, all preparations were completed, and the players had arrived for the match.
However, the sudden announcement by Ashraf Ali to halt the game and his threat of protests forced the administration to cancel the event and impose Section 144. As a result, the women footballers from Joypurhat and Rajshahi had to return without playing the match.
The incident has sparked widespread criticism, with many condemning the obstruction of women’s participation in sports.