A group of youths on Friday vandalised banners and engaged in scuffles at an event that demanded the unconditional release of Baul artiste Abul Sarkar and sought justice for recent attacks on bauls across the country.
The programme, "Gaaner Artonad", was organised today by Sampriti Jatra -- a platform of writers, artists, rights activists, and left-leaning political activists -- in front of Dhaka University's Faculty of Fine Arts, better known as Charukala. The incident took place around 4:30pm.
Organisers and participants alleged that activists of the "July Mancha" carried out the attack.
According to them, a number of July Mancha supporters stormed the protest programme. This led to shoving and a stand-off between the two groups.
Sami Abdullah, general secretary of Biplobi Chhatra Maitri's DU unit, said, "Some people from the July Mancha attacked our pre-scheduled programme. They gathered at several points before the programme began and vandalised our banner."
Abul Hashnat Bhuiyan, a cultural activist and a participant at the protest, said, "There was a small altercation but nothing serious. They were agitated because the name 'Abul Sarkar' was mentioned. Although the programme continued, we were apprehensive that they might return with more people as the news spread."
Earlier in the afternoon, July Mancha held a separate gathering in front of the National Museum in Shahbagh, calling for the "highest punishment for those who hurt religious sentiments" and urging resistance to "cultural conspiracies disrupting national harmony".
Masum Billah, who attended the July Mancha event, said, "We were holding our programme nearby and told them not to organise anything supporting those who make derogatory comments about religion. But they did not listen."
Shahriar Alam, one of the organisers of July Mancha's programme, said, "We made it clear that no cultural fascism would be allowed."
Another organiser of the July Mancha event, Md Waseer, said, "We told them they could protest for Baul artistes, but they must remove Abul Sarkar's name."
Contacted, Shahbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mansour Ahmed said they were unaware of such an incident. "We have not received any formal complaint yet," he added.
