Folk music event halted in Faridpur after 150 locals complain of 'anti-Islamic' content
The event, which was organised by Talma UP member Solaiman Fakir at the request of villagers, was fully prepared to begin after two days of public announcement
The local administration in Nagarkanda Upazila, Faridpur, shut down a traditional 'Bichar Gaan' (judicial song) folk music event moments before its start on 22 October after a large group of locals alleged the programme was "anti-Islamic" and posed a threat to law and order.
Nagarkanda Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Dabir Uddin and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Masum Billah visited the venue at Rasulpur Bazar around 7pm and ordered the immediate cancellation of the daylong event, resulting in the dismantling of the stage and pandal.
Nearly 150 individuals came and complained that this arrangement was anti-Islamic and that allowing it to proceed could lead to a deterioration of law and order
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The event, which was organised by Talma Union Parishad member Solaiman Fakir at the request of villagers, was fully prepared to begin after two days of public announcement and setup.
UNO Dabir Uddin confirmed the action was taken after an afternoon protest by concerned residents saying, "it's mandatory to obtain permission from the deputy commissioner for such cultural events. We did not give much importance to the matter at first as it was a one-day event.
"However, in the afternoon, nearly 150 individuals came and complained that this arrangement was anti-Islamic and that allowing it to proceed could lead to a deterioration of law and order," he said.
The UNO stated he immediately consulted with the local deputy commissioner and subsequently ordered the programme to be stopped due to the lack of formal permission and the potential for a breach of peace.
Meanwhile, UP member Solaiman Fakir, who organised the event, insisted that Bichar Gaan is a traditional cultural practice and that he saw nothing wrong with it.
He alleged that a few local religious leaders spread rumours that the programme was a Jatra Pala (folk theatre) to raise objections. Fakir also claimed to have obtained verbal permission from both the UNO and the Nagarkanda Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC), a claim the police quickly refuted.
Nagarkanda Police Station OC Rezaul Karim said, "No permission was taken for the Bichar Gaan. When the UNO informed me of the matter, I sent police to provide assistance."
Local administration officials stated that no untoward incident occurred during the shutdown but stressed the need for organisers to obtain formal permission for any such future events.
