Bangladesh: Muslim Mob Attacks Popular Singer’s Concert With Stones and Bricks, Event Called Off

Image: Jihad Watch

Popular Bangladeshi singer James’ much-anticipated concert in Faridpur, located about 120 kilometres from Dhaka, was abruptly cancelled following violent disruptions, highlighting the growing pattern of attacks on artists, performers, and cultural spaces across Bangladesh.

According to local media reports, the concert was scheduled for 9:00 pm on Friday as part of celebrations marking the anniversary of a local school. However, the event descended into chaos when a group of attackers attempted to forcibly enter the venue. Bricks and stones were hurled at the gathered crowd, triggering panic and confusion. Local residents said that students initially tried to resist the attackers and protect the event, but the situation deteriorated rapidly. Acting on instructions from local authorities amid escalating violence, organisers were ultimately forced to cancel the concert.

At least 25 people were reportedly injured in the incident, underscoring the seriousness of the attack and the threat posed to public safety and cultural expression.

Renowned author Taslima Nasreen drew attention to the incident and criticised what she described as a disturbing and recurring trend in Bangladesh. In a post on the social media platform X, she linked the attack on James’ concert to earlier assaults on prominent cultural institutions. She wrote that the iconic cultural centre Chhayanaut had been reduced to ashes and that Udichi—an organisation founded to nurture secular, progressive values through music, theatre, dance, recitation, and folk culture—had also been destroyed. Referring to the Faridpur incident, she stated that jihadists had prevented the celebrated singer James from performing.

Nasreen further pointed out that just two days earlier, Arman Khan, son of classical vocalist Ustad Rashid Khan, had declined an invitation to perform in Dhaka. According to her, Arman Khan made it clear that he did not wish to visit Bangladesh where hostility toward music and the arts had become widespread due to radical forces.

James, one of Bangladesh’s most iconic musicians, is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and composer, best known as the lead vocalist and creative force behind the legendary rock band Nagar Baul. His influence extends beyond Bangladesh, with several popular Hindi film songs to his credit, including Bheegi Bheegi from Gangster and Alvida from Life In A Metro. The attack on his concert has shocked many, given his immense popularity and cultural significance, and is seen as a stark indicator of how emboldened radical elements have become in the country.

In recent times, Bangladesh has witnessed a surge in street-level dominance by hardline Islamist mobs, while the state has been accused of remaining largely indifferent. Cultural institutions such as Chhayanaut and Udichi, along with artists, journalists, and media offices, have increasingly come under attack. The Muhammad Yunus–led interim government has faced sharp criticism for failing to rein in these mobs. Critics allege that the ongoing violence and arson are being deliberately engineered to create a breakdown in law and order, potentially serving as a pretext to delay the national elections scheduled for February.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)