A private Baul music event in the home area of Baul legend Shah Abdul Karim was not allowed to go ahead after objections were raised that it could involve “obscenity in the name of music.”
A written application was also submitted to the police seeking the cancellation of the event. The organiser ultimately called off the programme to avoid any unpleasant situation. The gathering had been scheduled for Thursday.
The incident took place in Hatia village of Kulanj Union in Dirai upazila, Sunamganj. Notably, Shah Abdul Karim was born in Ujandhal village in the neighbouring Taral Union.
According to police and local residents, Shawkat Ali, a UK-based expatriate hailing from Hatia, had arranged a small musical gathering at his residence to celebrate his daughter’s birthday. Two local female Baul singers, Tanisha and Nila, were scheduled to perform at the event.
On Wednesday, villagers Ataur Ali and Kamrul Hasan submitted a formal written complaint to the officer-in-charge (OC) of Dirai Police Station, lodging their objections against the programme. Following the complaint, police engaged with Shawkat Ali, who subsequently decided to cancel the event.
The application submitted to the authorities stated that Hatia village has long been known for its religious values and Islamic traditions. The signatories noted that the area houses an Alim madrasah and a shrine dedicated to a Muslim saint, alongside a significant population of Islamic scholars.
The complainants claimed that permitting an event featuring female singers could spark local tension and lead to undesirable social discord, prompting them to request administrative intervention.
