A Baul music gathering featuring female singers was held in Sunamganj's Dirai upazila thursday night (22 October), despite a written petition to the police from two villagers seeking to stop the event over concerns about religious and social values.
The programme took place in the yard of the home of Shawkat Ali, a UK-based expatriate, in Hatia village under Kulanj union. Locals reportedly helped him.
Two villagers, Atahar Ali Rahat and Kamrul Hasan Mitu, had submitted a written application to Dirai Police Station "on behalf of the locals", seeking cancellation of the programme.
Rahat is convener of the Dirai upazila unit of the National Citizen Party (NCP).
In their application, the two said they feared female singers could lead to "obscenity and immodesty." They called for the programme to be stopped "to protect religious and social values".
Following the complaint, Dirai Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Aminul Islam held discussions with the organiser.
Speaking on The Business Standard yesterday, the OC said police had discussed the objections with the organisers, who assured them that no music programme would be held.
However, Shawkat went ahead with the Baul gathering at his home that night, with several female singers performing. Police said no problem arose.
Today, OC Aminul said that a group had applied to the police station fearing that religious sentiments would be hurt.
Police had spoken to both the organiser and the complainants, he said.
Although Shawkat had initially been reluctant to hold the programme following the objections, he eventually arranged it at his home that night.
"As far as I know, female singers also performed there," the OC said, adding that no problem had arisen.
Speaking at the beginning of the programme last night, Shawkat said a group had made false claims that he planned to arrange jatra and ghatu performances.
"Though they are educated, their intentions are not good," he said. "They could not foil the programme. People have seen what I organised."
He also criticised those who wanted the event stopped.
Complainants say they oppose indecency, not music
Mitu, one of the petitioners, said he had complained to police about indecency in the name of music but had not obstructed the event.
He said the village was entirely Muslim, with a mosque, a madrasa and the shrine of a saint.
According to him, women had never performed songs in the village before.
"We are not against songs. We wanted to ensure that women did not sing indecent songs, which is why we complained," he said.
He confirmed that women sang at the programme on Thursday night and that the complainants had informed police.
"We respect the law. Nobody created any trouble over their programme, and it ended smoothly," he said.
Ekrar Hossain, chairman of Kulanj union parishad, said Shawkat had organised informal music gatherings at his home whenever he came to Bangladesh.
"I have seen him do this since my childhood. He is fond of such pastimes," he said.
The chairman said he had heard during the day on Thursday that there would be no music, and had since heard that songs were performed at the venue that night, including by female singers.
There was no disorder, he said, although an objection had been lodged with police.