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SUNAMGANJ: A private Baul music event in the area associated with Baul legend Shah Abdul Karim was cancelled after objections were raised over the participation of female performers, with concerns that the event could involve “obscenity in the name of music”.
A written application was also submitted to police seeking to stop the event. The organiser later cancelled it himself to avoid any untoward situation. The event had been scheduled for Thursday.
The incident took place in Hatia village under Kulanj Union in Dirai upazila of Sunamganj. Shah Abdul Karim was born in nearby Ujandhal village under Taral Union.
According to police and local residents, Shaukat Ali, an expatriate living in the United Kingdom from Hatia village, had arranged a small music programme at his home to celebrate his daughter’s birthday. Two local female Baul singers, Tanisha and Nila, were scheduled to perform.
On Wednesday, Ataur Ali and Kamrul Hasan submitted a written application to the officer-in-charge (OC) of Dirai Police Station on behalf of villagers, objecting to the event. Police later contacted Shaukat Ali, following which he cancelled the programme.
The application stated that Hatia village had long been known for its religious values and Islamic traditions. The village has an Alim madrasa and a shrine of a Muslim saint, and many Islamic scholars live there. The applicants claimed that allowing the musical event featuring female performers could create tension and lead to an undesirable situation. They urged authorities to take necessary measures to protect the village’s religious heritage and social harmony.
Complainant Kamrul Hasan said, “Although music programmes were held in our village in the past, such events are no longer organised here. There are mosques and madrasas in the village, and religious gatherings are held every year. The programme featuring female performers raised concerns among villagers about possible discontent and disorder. Many believe there could be obscenity in the name of music. For this reason, they requested that the event be stopped on religious grounds.”
Shaukat Ali said he had arranged the small musical event at his home to celebrate his daughter’s birthday. However, after objections were raised and he received a phone call from the police station, he decided to cancel the programme, taking social harmony into consideration.
