Recently, numerous female celebrities in Bangladesh have been facing threats in various forms. They have been obstructed from carrying out their work, with popular stars like Mehazabien Chowdhury, Porshi, Pori Moni, and Apu Biswas among those affected. The interim government has expressed deep concern over the recent hindrances to women’s recreational activities in the country. This concern was conveyed in a statement from the press wing of the Chief Advisor’s office on Thursday, January 30.
The government particularly condemned the actions of those who disrupted two women’s football matches.
The statement emphasized that “women are citizens of Bangladesh and enjoy human and civil rights equally with men. The interim government is doing everything in its power to ensure the full rights of Bangladeshi citizens.” It further stated that any individual involved in violating women’s rights would be dealt with in accordance with the country’s laws, and the government would take strict actions against any attempt to discriminate or oppress any group of citizens.
Additionally, the Chief Advisor’s office has directed the district administrations of Dinajpur and Joypurhat to take necessary steps to resume the suspended football matches.
However, no supervision or instructions have been provided by Dr. Yunus or his government regarding the ongoing obstruction faced by female stars in the entertainment industry. The statement did not address any specific incidents involving threats. Workers in the showbiz industry view this as “discrimination in expressing concern.”
Moreover, despite knowing that women in sports and entertainment are being attacked by Islamic fundamentalists, no punishment or regulatory instructions have been issued. Various videos, images, and reports support the claim that female artists are being obstructed under the pressure of objections and threats from Islamic fundamentalists. In Joypurhat, Islamic scholars and students have even vandalized women’s sports fields, and numerous viral videos depict these incidents. Yet, the Yunus government has remained silent on addressing this issue.
It has become increasingly clear that the Yunus government has been formed with the support of Islamic fundamentalists, including Jamaat-e-Islami and other Islamic parties, who effectively control the government. While there is concern over the negative international impact of the perception that women are unsafe in Bangladesh, the real issue of “Islamic extremism” remains unaddressed by the Yunus administration.