Allegation of an attack by July Moncho on the ‘Ganer Artonad’ program in Shahbagh

A clash involving attacks, vandalism, and scuffles took place at the protest event titled “Ganer Artonad” organized to protest the arrest of Baul Abul Sarker in Shahbagh, the capital, and the attacks on Baul artists. The incident occurred on Friday (28 November) around 4:30 PM in front of the Faculty of Fine Arts at Dhaka University.

Organizers and participants alleged that several volunteers of “July Moncho” and the group affiliated with them, “Concert for Dhaka,” jointly carried out the attack. They said that during the program, members of July Moncho suddenly tore down the banner and charged at the organizers. At that time, shoving and tension spread between the two sides.

Sami Abdullah, General Secretary of the Dhaka University unit of Biplobi Chhatra Maitri, said, “Some people from the July Moncho and Usman Hadi’s election campaign concert attacked our pre-announced program. It was completely pre-planned.” He further said that the attackers vandalized the program’s banner in an attempt to disrupt the event.

Mishkat Tanisha, who also participated in the same event, alleged, “One of them threatened to hit me with a shoe.”

Meanwhile, at the same time in Shahbagh, July Moncho held a separate program in front of the National Museum titled “Ensuring the highest punishment for those who hurt religious values” and “July Assembly to resist cultural conspiracies.”

Explaining the incident on behalf of July Moncho, Masum Billah said, “We were holding a program nearby and requested them not to organize an event supporting those who make derogatory remarks about religion. But they did not listen.” He further claimed that the organizers “acted provocatively,” making the situation tense.

Md. Shahriar Alam, a member of the organizing panel of “Ganer Artonad,” said, “As soon as we raised the demand for the release of Baul Abul Sarker, they attacked us. They are trying to impose cultural fascism.” Another organizer, Md. Wasir, said that the attackers demanded that Abul Sarker’s name be removed from the banner.

Another event organizer, Marzia Prova, said, “As soon as they arrived, they shouted that Abul Sarker’s name must be removed. They broke our backdrop and tried to take control of the microphone.”

She stated that despite the attack, the program did not stop. At 6 PM, the organizers held a torch procession demanding the release of Abul Sarker and protesting attacks on Baul artists across the country.