Dhaka: In continuing unrest in Bangladesh, suspected radical elements disrupted a concert by popular singer James in Faridpur, around 120 km away from capital Dhaka on Friday evening.
The concert had to be cancelled after attackers tried to force their way into the venue and threw bricks and stones at the crowd. This is the latest in a series of attacks on artists, performers, and cultural institutions in Bangladesh.
The concert was scheduled to take place at 9.00 pm on Friday to commemorate a local school’s anniversary. Though students resisted the attackers, authorities did not allow the concert to continue, locals said, as reported by NDTV.
Exiled author Taslima Nasreen highlighted the incident and slammed the pattern developing in Bangladesh.
“The cultural center Chhayanaut has been burned to ashes. Udichi-the organization that was built to foster a secular and progressive consciousness through the promotion of music, theater, dance, recitation, and folk culture-has also been burned to ashes. Today, jihadists did not allow the renowned singer James to perform at an event,” she posted on X.
“A few days ago, Siraj Ali Khan had come to Dhaka. He is the grandson of Ali Akbar Khan, the son of the world-famous maestro Ustad Allauddin Khan. Siraj Ali Khan himself is a distinguished artist of the Maihar gharana. He returned to India without performing any program in Dhaka, saying that he would not come to Bangladesh again until artists, music, and cultural institutions are safe,” Taslima added.
“Two days ago, Ustad Rashid Khan’s son Arman Khan also declined Dhaka’s invitation. He too made it clear that he does not wish to set foot in a Bangladesh inhabited by music-hating jihadists,” she further said.
James is an extremely popular name in Bangladesh. He is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and composer, who has also done a fair amount of playback singing. He is the lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist of the rock band ‘Nagar Baul’.
James has performed several hit Hindi film songs, such as ‘Bheegi Bheegi’ from the film ‘Gangster’ and ‘Alvida’ from the film ‘Life In A Metro’. The attack on his concert is an indication of how emboldened radical elements have become in Bangladesh.
Intellectuals in Bangladesh claim that hardline, Islamic radical mobs have taken over the streets, with the state turning a blind eye. Cultural institutions like Chhayanaut, Udichi, artists, journalists, and newspaper offices have come under attack. The Muhammad Yunus-led interim government has failed to control mobs.
Some suspect that these elements are trying to thwart the proposed elections in Bangladesh in February.
