Govt orders immediate arrest of attackers on Baul artistes: Shafiqul Alam
“Police in Manikganj and other districts are carrying out combing operations. You [journalists] will see results very soon,” he says
The government has issued strict instructions for the immediate arrest of those involved in recent attacks on Baul artistes in different parts of the country, including Manikganj, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said today (27 November).
"Police in Manikganj and other districts are carrying out combing operations. You [journalists] will see results very soon," he told reporters at the Foreign Service Academy following a meeting of the Advisory Council.
When asked whether the advisers discussed rising tensions between Baul artistes and some religious groups or any adviser's intention to step down ahead of the upcoming national election, the press secretary said, "No such discussions took place in today's meeting."
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He added, "However, as far as I know, strict instructions have been issued to immediately arrest those involved in the attacks on Baul artistes."
According to media reports, earlier this month, Baul artiste Abul Sarkar was detained by police from an event in Madaripur on allegations of hurting religious sentiments.
On 23 November, when Baul artistes gathered in Manikganj demanding his release, a group under the banner of "lem-Olama and Tawhidi Janata" in Manikganj attacked them, leaving several Bauls injured. Some were forced to jump into a waterbody to save themselves.
Similar attacks on Bauls occurred in other districts as well, including Thakurgaon, where members of a group identifying themselves as "Tawhidi Janata" assaulted artistes preparing for a human chain yesterday.
In response to these incidents, several political parties, cultural organisations, and human rights groups have issued statements demanding the arrest of the attackers and the immediate release of Abul Sarkar.
