They prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and expressed their heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family of Shahbuddin, an ex-footballer who was an official of Chattagram Bhratri Sangha Club.

In a statement signed by organisers and sportsmen, SKP said that it was not the first time that sport was affected by fundamentalist movements.

"In the past, fundamentalists' threats stopped a women's football match in Netrokona between a local side and visiting West Bengal team and the organisers were forced to stop a women's swimming competition in Chandpur. Even in Dhaka, the extremists showed agitation during the women's football league," it stated.

"At this crisis moment, we are calling upon all sportsmen, organisers, coaches and clubs to stand against the evil forces," it added.