Violence Disrupts Faridpur Zilla School Reunion, James Concert Called Off

The concert of popular singer James was cancelled on the final day of the 185th anniversary celebration and reunion programme of Faridpur Zilla School due to an attack by outsiders. At least 30 people, including the convener of the organising committee, were injured after being hit by bricks and stones thrown by outsiders.

The incident took place after 9:30 pm on Friday (26 December) on the premises of Faridpur Zilla School.

According to sources from the organising committee, the reunion and cultural programme was arranged exclusively for registered former and current students.

Several thousand unregistered outsiders arrived after hearing that singer James would perform. When they were not allowed to enter, they gathered on the adjacent Mujib Road. Later, the organising committee installed two projectors outside on behalf of the audience. However, still dissatisfied, the outsiders attempted to climb the wall and enter the school premises around 9:30 pm.

When they were stopped, the outsiders began throwing bricks and stones one after another toward the audience inside the school grounds and the stage. As those responsible for security tried to resist them, the attackers became more aggressive. As a result, 30 people inside the school premises were injured by the bricks and stones thrown at them.

Considering the situation, shortly before 10:00 pm, Benjir Ahmed Tabriz, a member of the security sub-committee and an alumnus of Faridpur Zilla School, announced the cancellation of the cultural programme.

Benjir Ahmed Tabriz said that 30 people, including reunion committee convener Mostafizur Rahman Shamim, were injured after being struck by bricks thrown from outside. Several of the injured were admitted to hospitals.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Faridpur Kotwali Police Station, Mohammad Shahidul Islam, said that after news spread that James would perform, between 20,000 and 25,000 people gathered in front of the school. It was impossible to accommodate such a large crowd inside the school premises. When outsiders were prevented from entering, a minor disturbance occurred.

The OC said that ultimately the entire performance was cancelled to restore normalcy.