Visually impaired musician family resumes work after threats silence them for six days in Brahmanbaria
Helal, a resident of Rajghar village in Natai Uttar Union, has supported his family through singing for almost five decades.
A visually impaired family in Brahmanbaria resumed their daily musical performance today (2 December), six days after suspending their work due to alleged threats from madrasah students who told them to stop singing and take up begging instead.
Helal Mia, who has been blind since birth, returned to the Poura Muktamancha (Municipal Open Stage) in Brahmanbaria town around 10am with several family members who also perform with him.
Although they have restarted their work, Helal said the family remains fearful, and no action has yet been taken by police regarding the threats.
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However, Md Obaidur Rahman, additional superintendent of police (administration and finance), said no formal complaint had been received.
"We are making inquiries. Appropriate legal action will be taken," he said.
The incident occurred on Wednesday (26 November), when a few people approached Helal and told him to stop singing, or they would damage his instruments.
Helal said they identified themselves as madrasa students.
Shocked and frightened, Helal and his family stopped performing, leaving them without income for nearly a week.
Asked about the allegation, Mufti Mubarak Ullah, principal of Jamia Islamia Yunusia Madrasah and Hefazat-e-Islam's district president, said he was unaware of any obstruction by their students.
"We have no prohibitions, but we cannot give permission for singing; singing is forbidden in Sharia law. Let them follow their own path. No one obstructed them," he said.
Helal, a resident of Rajghar village in Natai Uttar Union, has supported his family through singing for almost five decades.
Eight other members of his family — including his children and grandchildren — are also visually impaired.
Every day, from 10am to 1pm, the family performs spiritual songs such as Marfati, Murshidi and Qawwali at the open stage, drawing crowds who offer small contributions that sustain their livelihood.
Helal said they resumed singing today after receiving assurances from former district BNP president Hafizur Rahman Molla (Kochi).
"Managing our lives was very difficult over the last six days. I started singing again based on brother Kochi's assurance. But the spot where we usually sit has been taken over by hawkers, so we performed nearby," he said.
"There were no problems today, but we are still scared. We were threatened twice before," he added.
