JUST Correspondent: Md. Habib Ullah.

Allegations of assault have been raised against National University players by members of the Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST) women`s football team during the final match of the Inter-University Women’s Football Tournament. The JUST players also claimed that teachers who accompanied them were harassed by National University faculty members. Following the incident, the JUST team has initially announced a boycott of the match.
The match commenced today (Saturday, October 17) at 10:00 AM on the National University grounds. At one point during the game, the JUST goalkeeper collapsed on the field due to illness, leading to a verbal altercation between players of both teams. At one stage, a National University player charged forward and grabbed JUST player Rumi by the throat.
Regarding the incident, the victim player said, “Mainly, they fielded players brought in from outside. They had no evidence or credentials. Neither Dhaka University nor Chittagong University played with them for this reason. Then, during the match, our keeper fell down. So we only asked them to wait as the keeper was down and would get up. Right then, another player of theirs came and grabbed my throat first. When we asked why she grabbed my throat, an argument started. Later, everyone came, and we saw they got extremely agitated and attacked us.”
When asked whether the match would resume, she said, “That decision (canceling the match) hasn`t been officially taken yet. We just walked off the field. We don`t need to play by fighting like this, do you understand? There was no security guard for us. They couldn`t provide any security measures for us. So why should we play? If we go back out there, we might get beaten up again. They also mistreated our teachers. Their players were very aggressive; they broke branches off trees and came to attack us like using sticks.”
When contacted for details regarding the incident, Dr. Farhana Yasmin, Assistant Professor of the Department of English at JUST, who accompanied the players, stated, “Allegations that those playing for National University were not actually its students originated from Dhaka University and Chittagong University. Yesterday, Dhaka University walked out of the field for the exact same reason. However, following assurances from the organizers, we took to the field today. Our players were also saying that these were indeed not students. Nonetheless, when the organizers assured us that those playing were their actual students and took full responsibility for our security, our players trusted their words and stepped onto the pitch.”
She further added, “However, right from the start of the match, our players were physically assaulted and subjected to extreme sledging. At one point, when one of our players reported this to the referee, the referee showed a red card on charges of sledging. When we protested, the red card was withdrawn. Shortly after, when the ball reached near the goalpost, our goalkeeper caught it. At that moment, one of our players running past slightly bumped into the goalkeeper. It was a completely normal match situation. But centering this minor incident, their team players grabbed one of our players by the collar. Naturally, our other players rushed there as well. At that moment, their supporters standing outside the pitch turned aggressive and stormed onto the field. As we were at the other end of the field, fighting broke out before we could reach the spot.”
She also alleged, “Video footage in our possession clearly shows a player wearing a National University jersey breaking a tree branch from outside the field and bringing it inside to beat people up. At that moment, one of our male supporters tried to snatch the stick away from that player. He didn`t even lay a hand on her, yet counter-allegations are being raised that our boys hit their players. Immediately after, intense arguments and scuffles broke out between supporters from both sides. Their players also physically assaulted ours, video evidence of which is saved with us. If our players continue to be victimized like this every moment from the start of the game, it is completely impossible to continue playing in such a hostile environment.”