Activists from a group identified as the ‘July Mancha’ (July Platform) launched an attack today on a peaceful protest event organized by Baul folk singers at Shahbagh intersection, Dhaka, demanding justice for assaulted Bauls and the release of an arrested colleague.
The event, titled ‘Ganer Artonad’ (Cry of the Song), saw initial disruptions and a physical scuffle, though the Bauls ultimately defied the opposition and continued their program into the evening.
Clash at Shahbagh
The incident occurred this afternoon at the busy Shahbagh intersection, a hub for political and cultural demonstrations in the capital. The ‘Ganer Artonad’ program, organized by the ‘Sampreetir Jatra’ (Journey of Harmony), had just commenced when a procession of ‘July Mancha’ workers arrived at the site.
According to eyewitnesses, the July Mancha activists immediately tried to obstruct the event. The situation quickly escalated when several of their members attempted to forcibly tear down the main banner of the ‘Ganer Artonad’ program.
This led to a heated verbal dispute and a brief physical scuffle (hand-to-hand fight) between the organizers, the attending Bauls, and the July Mancha workers. However, despite the confrontation and disruptive tactics, the Bauls remained resilient. The organizers successfully fended off the attempts to halt the event, which then resumed around 5:30 PM and continued as planned.
Protest Demands and Context
The ‘Ganer Artonad’ event was organized to serve as a strong national protest against the rising incidents of attacks and harassment targeting Baul folk musicians across the country.
Bauls are revered mystics and folk singers in Bangladesh, famous for their unique philosophical songs that often promote communal harmony, freedom of thought, and spiritual humanism. Their non-traditional lifestyle and rejection of rigid religious orthodoxy have, in recent years, made them frequent targets of conservative and fundamentalist groups.
The key demands raised by the Baul community at today’s protest included:
- Unconditional Release of Abul Sarkar: The immediate and unconditional release of the arrested Baul, Abul Sarkar.
- End to Nationwide Attacks: A demand for government action to ensure the safety of Baul practitioners and an end to the recurrent physical assaults and destruction of their instruments and gathering places.
By holding the event despite the aggressive opposition, the Baul community has sent a clear message of determination to defend their cultural space and right to peaceful expression amidst an atmosphere of increasing intolerance.
