DHAKA, Dec 1: Women's rights organizations of Bangladesh on Wednesday condemned the fatwa of a religious group on women's swimming which led to the cancellation of a competition scheduled to be held in the district of Chandpur on Tuesday.

The leaders demanded women's rights to sports in Bangladesh, saying that the fundamentalists never wanted to ensure women's rights in all spheres of life. The group, Anti-Islamic Activities Prevention Committee, protested against the competition, and threatened to shut down the whole area.

The Chandpur administration on Monday agreed to cancel the event after more than 1,000 demonstrators took to the streets in the town, saying that the event was "un-Islamic".