Bangladesh on Alert as Islamic Preacher Urges Followers to Replace World Cup Flags with Religious Banners

Bangladeshi authorities have stepped up security monitoring after supporters of a conservative Islamic preacher launched a campaign to replace World Cup team flags with white Islamic banners across parts of the country.

The move follows a public appeal by Mufti Harun Izhar, who urged his followers to remove the flags of football nations such as Argentina and Brazil and instead raise white flags bearing the Kalima, the Islamic declaration of faith.

The campaign has reportedly spread to more than a dozen districts, where supporters have displayed the banners in public spaces. Videos shared on social media also show motorcycle convoys carrying the flags while religious songs are played.

Reacting to the development, police said they are closely monitoring the situation and are prepared to take action if the displays threaten public peace or public order.

“We are on alert,” police spokesperson Shahadat Hossain told AFP, adding that authorities would intervene if the campaign resulted in any security concerns.

Football is one of the most popular sports in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, where major international tournaments often see widespread public displays of support for teams, especially Brazil and Argentina. Streets, homes and businesses are frequently decorated with the flags of supporters’ favourite nations during the FIFA World Cup.

Speaking to AFP, Izhar defended his call, saying it was aimed at encouraging Muslims to exercise restraint in publicly celebrating foreign national teams. He also dismissed suggestions that the white flags used by his supporters were linked to Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities or the black banners associated with the Islamic State (ISIS).

According to the cleric, critics often wrongly associate Islamic flags with extremist organisations, insisting that the white banners displayed by his supporters represent only the Islamic profession of faith.

The campaign has drawn the attention of government officials. Prime Minister’s adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said the government was carefully monitoring the situation, warning that the development could damage Bangladesh’s image internationally.

Despite the campaign, many football supporters have continued to defend the country’s long-standing World Cup traditions. Brazil fan Mohammad Moniruzzaman Chisty said football provides people with a much-needed escape from daily hardships and remains one of the country’s most cherished forms of entertainment.

The incident has sparked debate in Bangladesh over the balance between religious expression and the country’s secular constitutional framework, while authorities continue to monitor developments to prevent any breakdown of law and order.