Who is Singer James whose concert was attacked in Bangladesh? 25 people injured so far; Has given voice to many Bollywood songs

In Bangladesh, the land known for music and culture is once again in the headlines due to violence. The way the mob attacked during the concert of famous singer James in Faridpur, it not only stopped a program but also raised serious questions on freedom of expression and cultural security in the country.

This program which was to be held on Friday night suddenly turned into chaos. This scene of rain of bricks and stones, injured people and canceled concert highlights the fear in which artists and cultural institutions of Bangladesh are forced to work today.

Read now on WhatsApp also, click to subscribe

Who is Singer James?

James is counted among the most popular and influential singers of Bangladesh. He is the lead singer and lyricist of the famous rock band Nagar Baul. James has made his mark not only in Bangladesh but also in India. She has sung the superhit song “Bheegi Bheegi” from Bollywood films Gangster and “Alvida” from Life in a… Metro. His voice gets special respect in Rock, Folk and Playback, which is why the attack on him has become a matter of concern for the entire cultural world.

What happened in Faridpur that night?

James’s concert was scheduled on the occasion of the anniversary of a school in Faridpur, about 120 kilometers from Dhaka. At around 9 pm suddenly an angry mob entered the venue and started throwing bricks and stones at the audience. At least 25 people were injured in this attack. Seeing the situation getting out of control, the organizers immediately decided to cancel the concert. The students and spectators present continued to protest, but due to lack of security it was not possible to continue the program. Saving people’s lives became the priority of artists and organizers.

attempt to suppress culture

Panic spread in the area after the attack. Local people say that such attacks on cultural programs are creating an atmosphere of fear in the society. Many people termed it as “an attempt to suppress culture”.

Taslima Nasreen expressed concern

Famous writer Taslima Nasreen expressed concern about this incident on social media platform X. He wrote that the attackers not only stopped the concert, but also targeted organizations promoting music, dance and folk culture. According to Nasreen, cultural center ‘Chhayanat’ and folk-cultural organization ‘Udichi’ were also attacked. This makes it clear that this is not just an attack on a concert, but a sign of widespread cultural intolerance.

Now artists are scared

The increasing violence has also affected international cultural exchange. Artists like Siraj Ali Khan, associated with the Meher Gharana, and Armaan Khan, son of Ustad Rashid Khan, refused to perform in Dhaka due to security reasons.

Violence increased after the change of power

Incidents of mob violence have increased in Bangladesh after the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power. Attacks on artists, journalists and minorities are continuously coming to the fore. The interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus is being accused of not being able to control fundamentalist elements. The government is claiming to be handling the situation, but the ground situation is telling a different story.

Increasing tension in election environment

The atmosphere has become more tense before the parliamentary elections to be held on February 12. Violent incidents have increased further after the murder of a radical youth leader during campaigning, which has increased the threat to cultural events. The Faridpur incident has raised the question whether democracy as well as culture is safe in Bangladesh? If artists are not safe on stage, it will be considered a direct threat to the creative soul of the society.