Taliban 2.0? Bangladesh turns into Afghanistan, Yunus bows down to…, calls women anti-islamic for…

While the Bangladeshi govt under Yunus cracks down harshly on opposition protests, citing a zero-tolerance policy for public disorder, it remains silent when religious extremists violate women's rights, disrupt public events.

Bangladesh is witnessing an alarming rise in religious extremism, with radical groups tightening their grip on society. Under the influence of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, the country appears to be slipping toward a Taliban-like rule. Forget about Hindus—now even Muslim women are facing severe restrictions. Playing football, a simple sports, has now been branded as “anti-Islamic,” turning it into a life-threatening act.

The incident took place after the religious extremists forcefully cancelled a public event featuring a renowned Bangladeshi film actress a few days ago. Tension also escalated last week in Joypurhat, where radical groups stormed a restaurant inauguration, compelling organizers to cancel the event due to pressure from extremists. Soon after, the same groups declared that women’s football violated Islamic principles. Their outrage resulted in a mass gathering near Independence Square at Tilakpur railway station, where hundreds of madrasa students and hardline clerics gathered after the Asr prayer.

“The Islamists in our area gathered in a field and marched toward the venue. There were hundreds of them,” tournament organiser Samiul Hasan Emon told the AFP news agency. “The situation worsened, and we had to cancel today’s event.”

Several extremist leaders addressed the crowd, stating that Islam teaches women to remain within certain boundaries and that promoting women’s sports encourages immorality. They issued a stern warning, demanding an end to such activities, or else more severe consequences would follow.

Extremists’ rampage

After issuing threats, extremists stormed the football field, vandalizing the premises. Shockingly, they even live-streamed their actions on Facebook, aiming to send a clear message that no future events involving women would be allowed. The radicals also targeted another women’s football match in Hakimpur Upazila, leading to clashes between protesters and event organizers, resulting in a dozen injuries.

“Girls’ football is un-Islamic,” said Abu Bakkar Siddique, a madrassa headmaster who participated in the demonstration. “It is our religious duty to stop anything that goes against our beliefs.”

A similar incident occurred a day earlier in the nearby city of Dinajpur, where another women’s match was postponed following protests by Islamists wielding sticks. Authorities had to evacuate players for their safety, according to teacher Moniruzzaman Zia.

Bangladesh on the path to becoming another Afghanistan

While the Bangladeshi government under Muhammad Yunus cracks down harshly on opposition protests, citing a zero-tolerance policy for public disorder, it remains silent when religious extremists violate women’s rights, disrupt public events, and prevent female football matches. The government’s selective response raises concerns that Bangladesh is gradually heading toward a state of fundamentalist control, much like Afghanistan.