Vandalism and scuffles broke out at the “Ganer Artanad” event on Friday, organized to demand the unconditional release of Baul mystic Abul Sarkar and justice for attacks on Baul artists across Bangladesh.
The incident occurred around 3:30PM in front of Dhaka University’s Faculty of Fine Arts at Shahbagh, when several members of the July Mancha allegedly attacked the program, according to organizers and participants.
Organizers claimed that some volunteers from the “Concert for Dhaka” event, led by Osman Hadi, joined forces with July Mancha to disrupt the program. The situation reportedly escalated into shoving and heightened tensions.
Sami Abdullah, General Secretary of Dhaka University’s Biplabi Chhatra Maitri, told Dhaka Tribune: “Some people from July Mancha and Osman Hadi’s concert attacked our pre-announced program. This was completely premeditated. They even gathered at different points before the program started and vandalized our banners.”
Participant Mishkat Tanisha alleged that one of the attackers threatened to hit her with a shoe.
Meanwhile, July Mancha had organized a nearby program in front of the National Museum titled “July Assembly to ensure maximum punishment for those who hurt religious values” and “resist cultural conspiracies arising from the destruction of national harmony.”
Masum Billah, representing July Mancha, said: “We were at our own program nearby and told them not to hold any event supporting those who make derogatory remarks about religion. They did not listen. In any situation, they push women to the front. They’re not women, they’re terrorists—they used them as a front to launch their attack.”
Md. Shahriar Alam, an organizer of the Ganer Artanad conference, added: “We presented our demand for Abul Sarkar’s release and stated that no cultural fascism will be tolerated.” Another organiser, Md Wasir, said: “They can protest in favor of bauls, but they must remove Abul Sarkar’s name.”
