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Sunday, 22 December, 2024

Seven, Including Puja Committee Leader, Charged for Playing Islamic Songs at Puja Pavilion

The case alleges the songs disrupted the religious solemnity of the event
Express Report
  12 Oct 2024, 02:27

A case has been filed against seven individuals, including a leader of the Puja committee, over the performance of Islamic songs at the Puja pavilion in Jatra Mohon Sen Hall, Chattogram.

Sukanta Bikash Mahajan, the treasurer of the Chattogram Metropolitan Puja Celebration Council, complained to Kotwali Police Station on Friday.

The accused are Sajal Dutta, the Joint General Secretary of the Puja committee, along with Shahidul Karim, 42, Mohammad Nurul Islam, 34, Abdullah Iqbal, 30, Md Mamun, 27, Golam Mostafa, 36, and Md Roni, 28.

Kotwali Police said the case was filed under sections 295, 296, and 298 of the penal code. Two of the accused, Shahidul and Nurul, were arrested in connection with the incident.

The First Information Report, or FIR, said a group of artists from the Chattogram Cultural Academy had approached Sajal Dutta, expressing interest in performing patriotic songs. However, with his support, the artists allegedly performed two Islamic songs to ‘disrupt the religious atmosphere and create chaos during the Puja event’.

The lyrics of one song reportedly offended the sentiments of Hindu devotees, prompting the Puja committee to stop the performance immediately.

The FIR mentioned that after the performance, a video of the ghazal went viral on social media, triggering tensions within the Hindu community.

This led to protests by enraged devotees, who took to the streets near the venue to express their anger.

Additional personnel from the army and law-enforcing agencies were deployed to control the situation and prevent further unrest.

Chattogram’s Deputy Commissioner, Farida Khanam, visited the pavilion following the protests and assured the community that action would be taken against those responsible.

At a press conference, Chattogram Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Crime), Rais Uddin, stated that the artists had performed an Islamic ghazal and a Baul song at Sajal's request. One of these songs was found offensive by Hindu attendees, escalating tensions.

Metropolitan Puja Udjapan Parishad President, Ashish Bhattacharya, told bdnews24.com, 'He [Sajal Dutta] acted on his own without consulting any of us. We are deeply disappointed by the incident.'

He asserted that no performance by the group of Islamic artists was scheduled. 'Our daily cultural events only feature religious songs. This has been our long-standing tradition, and these events are managed by our committee’s cultural secretary,' Ashish said.

He further added, 'The joint secretary has no authority in this matter. We do not know why he [Sajal Dutta] invited them. He neither informed us nor held any discussion about it.

 

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Seven, Including Puja Committee Leader, Charged for Playing Islamic Songs at Puja Pavilion

The case alleges the songs disrupted the religious solemnity of the event
Express Report
  12 Oct 2024, 02:27

A case has been filed against seven individuals, including a leader of the Puja committee, over the performance of Islamic songs at the Puja pavilion in Jatra Mohon Sen Hall, Chattogram.

Sukanta Bikash Mahajan, the treasurer of the Chattogram Metropolitan Puja Celebration Council, complained to Kotwali Police Station on Friday.

The accused are Sajal Dutta, the Joint General Secretary of the Puja committee, along with Shahidul Karim, 42, Mohammad Nurul Islam, 34, Abdullah Iqbal, 30, Md Mamun, 27, Golam Mostafa, 36, and Md Roni, 28.

Kotwali Police said the case was filed under sections 295, 296, and 298 of the penal code. Two of the accused, Shahidul and Nurul, were arrested in connection with the incident.

The First Information Report, or FIR, said a group of artists from the Chattogram Cultural Academy had approached Sajal Dutta, expressing interest in performing patriotic songs. However, with his support, the artists allegedly performed two Islamic songs to ‘disrupt the religious atmosphere and create chaos during the Puja event’.

The lyrics of one song reportedly offended the sentiments of Hindu devotees, prompting the Puja committee to stop the performance immediately.

The FIR mentioned that after the performance, a video of the ghazal went viral on social media, triggering tensions within the Hindu community.

This led to protests by enraged devotees, who took to the streets near the venue to express their anger.

Additional personnel from the army and law-enforcing agencies were deployed to control the situation and prevent further unrest.

Chattogram’s Deputy Commissioner, Farida Khanam, visited the pavilion following the protests and assured the community that action would be taken against those responsible.

At a press conference, Chattogram Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Crime), Rais Uddin, stated that the artists had performed an Islamic ghazal and a Baul song at Sajal's request. One of these songs was found offensive by Hindu attendees, escalating tensions.

Metropolitan Puja Udjapan Parishad President, Ashish Bhattacharya, told bdnews24.com, 'He [Sajal Dutta] acted on his own without consulting any of us. We are deeply disappointed by the incident.'

He asserted that no performance by the group of Islamic artists was scheduled. 'Our daily cultural events only feature religious songs. This has been our long-standing tradition, and these events are managed by our committee’s cultural secretary,' Ashish said.

He further added, 'The joint secretary has no authority in this matter. We do not know why he [Sajal Dutta] invited them. He neither informed us nor held any discussion about it.

 

Comments

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