HC questions legality of disparity in salaries, benefits between male and female footballers

The High Court today issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why the discrimination in salaries, benefits, and opportunities between male and female footballers should not be declared illegal.

The bench of Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi and Justice Raziuddin Ahmed issued the rule following a writ petition filed as a public interest litigation by Supreme Court lawyers Barrister Sumaiya Binta Tanvir and Barrister Ariza Mehelee Khan seeking necessary directives.

During the hearing, Barrister Sumaiya told the court that discrimination is entrenched across all levels of Bangladesh football.

Women players lack adequate housing facilities, and there is no regular league system for them, she said.

She further argued that even after the women's national team won the SAFF Championship, the promised Tk 1.5 crore incentive has yet to be disbursed, the lawyer added.

Officials concerned including the youth and sports secretary have been made respondents to the rule returnable in four weeks, Barrister Sumaiya told The Daily Star.