Staff Reporter:
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Thursday said that the government has instructed the law enforcers to swiftly arrest those involved in recent attacks on Baul artistes.
“The Council of Advisers didn’t discuss the issue of attacks on Baul artistes in Thursday’s meeting. However, as far as I know, strict instructions have been given to immediately apprehend those involved in the attacks,” he said while briefing the media at the Foreign Service Academy.
The press secretary also said that Manikganj police are working to detain the perpetrators over the attack in the district.
“Wherever such attacks have taken place, police are carrying out combing operations. You will see results very soon,” Shafiqul Alam added.
On 19 November, Baul artiste Abul Sarkar was detained by police from a musical event in Madaripur over allegations of insulting religion during a folk performance. On 23 November, a group of people under the banner of “Ulama and Tawhidi People of Manikganj District” attacked Bauls who had gathered in Manikganj for a human chain demanding his release.
In protest against Abul Sarkar’s arrest and the attacks on the Bauls, various protest programmes have been held in Dhaka and across the country. Among these, Bauls, while preparing for a human chain, were attacked again by individuals operating under the “Tawhidi Janata” banner on Wednesday in Thakurgaon.
Multiple political parties, as well as social, cultural, and human rights organisations, have issued statements demanding the arrest of those who attacked the Bauls and calling for the release of Abul Sarkar.
