When will women athletes get safe space in Bangladesh?

Former Bangladesh women's cricket team captain Jahanara Alam's recent allegations of sexual harassment have sparked widespread discussion in the country's sporting community. While women athletes in Bangladesh continue to face various forms of harassment, many remain hesitant to speak out -- largely due to the absence of a secure and supportive environment.

To ensure genuine protection and dignity for women in sports, experts have emphasized the need for:

*Strong and enforced policies,

*Greater accountability in sports governance,

*And increased representation of women in key administrative positions across sports federations.

Although Bangladesh's High Court has issued clear guidelines to prevent sexual harassment in workplaces, these policies are often not implemented effectively within the sports ecosystem. If negligence and silence continue, the consequences for the future of women's sports in Bangladesh could become increasingly alarming.

On the latest episode of The Daily Star's sports podcast Pitch Perfect, we welcome Organiser and former national badminton champion Quamrun Nahar Dana and Commonwealth Games gold medallist and former national shooter Sabrina Sultana to understand the deeper issues, voices, and reforms needed to ensure a safer, more inclusive sporting environment for women.