mob-goes-on-rampage-at-bangladesh-concert-venue-20-injured

Amidst a highly volatile political environment in Bangladesh that has been interspersed with acts of violence, a mob attacked the venue of a concert that was to be held late at night, leading to its cancellation. At least 20 students were left injured.

The incident occurred on Friday night in Faridpur, where popular rock singer James, who has also lent his voice to several hit Hindi film songs, was to perform, officials and organisers have said. 

James’ concert was to mark the closing of Faridpur Zilla School’s 185th anniversary celebrations, where a temporary stage had been set up, a local news portal reported.

However, just before the programme was due to begin, a group of outsiders tried to forcefully enter the premises after being turned away initially. The group resorted to throwing bricks and stones and attempting to seize the stage.

When the school’s students resisted the attackers, at least 20 of them were left injured by flying debris, the organisers informed.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Azmir Hossain said the exact number of casualties was yet to be confirmed. “The number of injured in the attack is not yet known. We are trying to gather detailed information,” he was quoted as saying by the news portal.

 

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With the situation escalating, organising committee convener, Mustafizur Rahman Shamim, cancelled the show on the orders of the Faridpur district administration, a newspaper reported.

Rajibul Hasan Khan, convener of the programme’s publicity and media sub-committee, said they could not ascertain the reasons behind the attack. “We could not understand why and who carried out the attack on James’ concert. Considering the overall situation, we were compelled to cancel the programme following instructions from the district administration,” he said.

James, the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist of the Bangladeshi rock band, Nagar Baul, has sung in several hit Bollywood films, including Gangster, Woh Lamhe, and Life in a... Metro.

In recent weeks, organisations such as Chhayanaut and Udichi Shilpi Goshthi in Dhaka have also been vandalised as part of organised attacks on cultural institutions in the country.