NEW DELHI, Dec 27: A live performance by legendary Bangladeshi rock musician James was abruptly canceled in Faridpur after a violent mob attack disrupted the venue, leaving at least 25 people, including 15 students, injured.
The concert was scheduled for 9:00 pm on Friday and was organized to commemorate the anniversary of a local school. The celebratory evening quickly descended into chaos after assailants attempted to force their way into the premises and began pelting bricks and stones at attendees.
Despite efforts by students and residents to protect the gathering, the escalating threat forced authorities to shut down the program in the interest of public safety. Eyewitness accounts suggest that the attack was sudden and coordinated creating panic among the crowd. Several audience members suffered injuries as projectiles rained down, turning the concert ground into a scene of confusion and fear.
Emergency services were called in to assist the wounded, while security personnel struggled to regain control of the situation. The incident comes amid a surge in violent demonstrations by hardline Islamist groups across Bangladesh. Cultural organizations, journalists, and media outlets have increasingly found themselves under attack.
Critics argue that the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has been unable to rein in the unrest. Some observers allege that the violence and acts of arson are being strategically fueled to destabilize the country and potentially delay the national elections scheduled for February.
James, the frontman of the iconic rock band Nagar Baul, remains one of Bangladesh’s most influential musicians. Beyond national borders, he gained immense popularity in India through Bollywood tracks such as Bheegi from gangster and Goodbye from Life in a MetroHis appeal across generations made the Faridpur cancellation particularly symbolic, reflecting how even mainstream cultural figures are no longer insulated from extremist hostility,
Author and activist Taslima Nasreen strongly criticized the incident, linking it to a broader pattern of assaults on Bangladesh’s cultural heritage. Writing on the social media platform
(Rohit Kumar)
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