‘Why stop us when govt supports women athletes?’

While Bangladesh women’s football has brought the country considerable success and international recognition, girls in some parts of the country continue to face intimidation and discrimination for playing the sport. Recently, pressure and threats from fundamentalist groups forced the cancellation of a women’s friendly football match in Derai, a town in Sunamganj district in northeastern Bangladesh, depriving young players of the chance to compete after months of preparation. Shabana Akter, a Grade 10 student and captain of Swapnachura Club, spoke to The Daily Star’s Anisur Rahman about the players’ distress, the restrictions they face at home, and their demand for protection and support from the authorities.

The Daily Star (DS): How did you feel when you heard that the match had been cancelled?

Shabana Akter (SA): We were getting changed into our kits and preparing to go onto the pitch when we heard that the match had been called off. Many of us became very upset and started crying. One player even fainted. We had been preparing for this match with so much excitement for the past two months.

DS: How did you try to comfort your teammates?

SA: We have around 40 to 50 players in our squad, but only 11 can play at a time. I tried to encourage some players, saying, “Look, we won’t give up. We have no reason to back down. We will keep trying and moving forward.”

Many of the girls already face restrictions at home. Their families sometimes scold them for playing football. After the religious teachers spoke against girls playing football, some girls were even threatened with being thrown out of their homes. Not every family is understanding, so everyone was worried about what might happen next.

DS: As captain, were you scared too?

SA: Yes, all of us were very nervous. But I felt that if I panicked, the other girls would lose hope too. So, I tried not to show my fear and urged them to keep playing and stand up for ourselves.

People said many hurtful things about us for going out to play football. The government is providing recognition and opportunities for women athletes, so why should anyone stop us from playing? If we face these kinds of obstacles, how will girls move forward in sports?

DS: Have you faced similar problems since you started playing football?

SA: Yes. I have been playing sports for ten years, and my family used to say many things to me about it. But they do not say those things anymore because they have come to trust me. I told them, “Look, I want to achieve something big. Encourage me. Playing sports is not a bad thing.”

DS: Do you earn anything from these exhibition matches?

SA: No, we do not earn any money from them. We have to collect money from our relatives to organise the matches. There are no ticket sales or other income. In the haor region, girls do not get many chances to play sports. We arrange these matches to keep the girls interested and encourage more of them to play and dream big.

I have also played matches outside the region, including in North Bengal. Sometimes I received a little money, but much of it went towards travel costs. We play purely to fulfil our dreams.

DS: How did you first get into football?

SA: I was in Grade 4 when I first played football in the Bangamata Primary School Football Tournament. Our coach, Rakib sir, saw me playing and asked if I wanted to continue. We used to play with older girls, but our families often put up obstacles and made us afraid to play.

Many players from our region have gone on to play in the Women’s Football League in Dhaka and for the Army and Ansar. But when girls grow a little older, marriage proposals start coming, and their families often marry them off.

DS: What would you like the local administration and police to do so that you can play without facing these problems again?

SA: We just want to be able to go out and play without anyone stopping us. We want the administration to support us and encourage us, and tell us, “Go ahead, we are right beside you.” If the authorities themselves are intimidated and tell us to stop playing, what can we expect? We want them to support us, not stop us.

DS: Do you think the match could have gone ahead if the administration and police had provided security?

SA: Yes, I think it could have. But we did not get the security we needed. We heard that our OC [local Officer-in-Charge] was on leave, so he could not be there.

DS: Some people opposed the match, claiming it was indecent and went against social values. What do you say to that?

SA: We wear modest sports clothes and behave properly when we play. We follow our own principles, so I do not understand why people are calling it indecent. These accusations are not fair. Women play sports in many countries, including Saudi Arabia. So why are people criticising us in Bangladesh in the name of indecency?

DS: How do you think the concerns of people who oppose girls playing football could be addressed?

SA: Sports organisations and the relevant authorities can take the initiative to explain things to people. We also have hope in the government. If it gives this issue importance and helps raise awareness, I think things can improve.

DS: Would it help if local leaders and religious teachers sat down with the authorities and the players to discuss the issue?

SA: Yes. If our DC sir [Deputy Commissioner] and UNO sir [Upazila Nirbahi Officer], along with other responsible officials, take the initiative to speak with everyone, they can explain that playing sports is not a crime.

DS: What can local young people and sports organisations do to support you?

SA: They can stand beside us and encourage us. If young people and the community support us, it will be harder for anyone to oppose us in this way.