While some international bodies are trying to accelerate women sports, local authorities are facing severe opposition from a section of religious extremists.

The situation has recently worsened when an Islamic group, Jamiatul Ulama Islami Bangladesh, threatened to prevent a women wrestling competition, first of its kind in Bangladesh, scheduled to be held on July 4.

In the face of obstruction from the so-called Jamiat quarter, the Bangladesh Wrestling Federation has shifted the competition to the Women Sports Complex, located at Dhanmondi, from the National Sports Council gymnasium.

However, it did not prevent the Islamic group to waive their objection as they have plans to agitate against the women wrestling event on Friday after the jum’a prayers, along with some other like-minded pro-Islamic political organisations such as the Islamic Constitution Movement, Nezam-e-Islami Bangladesh and the Islamic Party.

Mohiuddin Khan, executive president of Jamiatul Ulama, declared a jihad against the competition and said if the government did not take any step to stop the women’s wrestling competition, they would not leave it alone, even though the event had been shifted from the NSC building to Dhanmondi.

“We are even ready to sacrifice life, if necessary, to protest any kind of indecent sports to be held in the country,” Mohiuddin told New Age at his office in Purana Paltan on Thursday.

Earlier in a statement, the organisation demanded an immediate embargo on the competition, which, is according to them, hurt the religious feelings of millions of Muslims.

The wrestling federation, however, is firm in its decision to hold the daylong competition, where around 100 women from 11 districts are slated to compete in eight weight categories.

“We have pressures from FILA, the world body for wrestling, to introduce women’s version of the competition in line with many other countries,” said Tabiur Rahman, general secretary of the federation.

He, however, said there would be nothing indecent in the event as they have appropriate dress code for the competitors.

“I have heard some Islamic groups want to stop the competition. Few even threatened us with life over telephone if we hold the competition. We have already informed the matter to the police commissioner of Dhaka to provide us adequate security.

“I would like to invite them to see and find whether there is anything indecorous in our competition. Women in our country are regularly participating in many other sports and why the wrestling would e an exception. One thing I can assure everybody, our girls will not wear shorts.”

State Minister for Youth and Sports Fazlur Rahman said he had no idea about the conflict but believes that if any organisation threaten to thwart a sports event, it would be very unfair.

“We have some obligations to the international bodies like FIFA, IOC, to accelerate the women’s event. Hence, different federations have taken different initiatives.”

People in the sports fraternity have said the interference of the Islamic group in their activities was nothing new.

A 21-member Indian women’s football team had visited the country in January 2003 and had been scheduled to play three matches in Dhaka, Jessore and Netrakona.

The first two matches were held amid severe intimidation but the last one had to be cancelled after the local authorities refused to provide any security. In Jessore, the visiting side also faced strong agitation.

Despite the opposition fro the Islamic groups, the Bangladesh Football Federation, had to start two training camp for women footballers in the Women Sports Complex and Gazipur Ansar Academy after receiving a prescription from the Asian Football Confederation. Ninety women, most of them coming from the indigenous groups, have been training in the camps.

The AFC, which initiated a Vision Asia project in eight Asian countries, including Bangladesh, have included women’s football as one of its 11 elements.

Having found no other way, the football federation has decided to introduce women’s football within a short span of time.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board is also contemplating introduction of competitive cricket for women as it has recently been prescribed by the Asian Cricket Council.

The ACC recently signed a memorandum of understanding with UNICEF, which launched a campaign with the slogan ‘Fair Play for Girls’.

During last year’s World Cup Football, held in the United States in September, UNICEF and FIFA entered into a partnership and selected 12 countries to provide sport-in-a-box kit.

The recipient countries are: Bhutan, Bolivia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Guinea, India, Nigeria, Zambia, Sudan, Georgia and Bangladesh.

UNICEF selected the Bangladesh Women Sports Federation to receive these kits and total of 65 kits have been received by them.

These kits are now in the federation’s hands and will be used to promote girls’ education through football and facilitate increased participation, confidence, cooperation and teamwork among girls in the country, said UNICEF sources.

The sport-in-a-kit box contains professional and junior footballs, inflating kits, whistle, flags, jerseys and some promotional material.