WE have noted with consternation the last-minute cancellation of a women's wrestling competition, under the threat of a little known religious organisation and an even less known individual. The excuse offered by the state minister suggests that he has scant respect for the level of comprehension and intelligence of the public.

It is sad but true that the authorities have once again capitulated under the threat of fanatics and bigots. This is not the first time the government has given in to the most preposterous and undemocratic demand by the religious obscurantist elements, related to women's sports in Bangladesh. On a previous occasion, a women's football match had to be called off because of fanatical threats.

We fail to see why the government countenances the bigots' attempt to mix up sports with politics in the same way that they mix up politics with religion. How does a perfectly recognised sports like wrestling, participated by women, in a spirit of true sportsmanship and following the norms of decency under international rules, appear obscene and vulgar to some? Afterall, there are many sports that our ladies participate in like for instance hadudu which has never been regarded as a no-go item of sport in Bangladesh. Let's not forget that Muslim women have fought in wars in Islamic history.

When will the authorities realise that caving into such threats only helps to give credence to the ultra-orthodox elements. There is no gainsaying that these fanatics and traders in religion could be emboldened to make a new demand for banning something else against women's interests. So, we have to nip the tendency in the bud or else we invite a genie out of the bottle.

We strongly feel that the authorities, instead of canceling a sports event like women's wrestling for fear of the fanatics, should have actually arrested the person or persons who had made the threat and committed them to the process of law.