A TROUPE having sung Islamic songs at a puja mandap in Chattogram and the consequent controversy warrant special attention and proper investigation given the political implications of the incident. Such an incident, unacceptable and alarming, creates scope for a wider political and religious controversy. It also helps quarters that are out to paint the country in a bad light. It goes against the aspirations of the July uprising, which toppled an autocratic regime with a dream to create a democratic Bangladesh, where people of all faiths would live with equal rights. Six members of the Chattogram Cultural Academy performed two songs, including one that glorifies Islam and religious harmony, at the mandap at JM Sen Hall at Andarkilla in Chattogram, organised by the Chattogram Puja Celebrations Council. Videos of the performance went viral on social media, drawing criticism from different quarters. A case has, meanwhile, been filed and the law enforcers have already detained two. People of the Hindu community and organisations, including the central committee of the Bangladesh Puja Celebrations Council, have criticised the incident, saying that it has hurt the Hindu community. It has also been alleged by many that the Chattogram Cultural Academy is affiliated with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, which, however, has brushed aside the allegation.
A number of issues surrounding the performance raise questions and suspicions. The troupe seeks to explain that a joint secretary of the puja organising committee invited it to perform there. The organisers have also confirmed that a joint secretary was involved and he had not informed the committee of the invitation. The organising committee has removed the joint secretary. After the incident, a crowd gathered in front of the venue and shouted slogans. What, however, has raised eyebrows is that among what appears to be an agitated crowd were a number of known activists of the now-deposed Awami League and the slogans that the crowd shouted also included popular Awami League slogans. The incident has, meanwhile, been picked up by Indian media that has since the fall of the Awami League consistently been manoeuvring to show that there has been a rise in religious extremism and hate crimes in Bangladesh. It was already feared that political and other elements associated with the Awami League might try to do something untoward during Durga Puja, the largest festival of the Hindus, to discredit the July uprising. It is also difficult to say whether some overenthusiastic Islamic groups or people were involved in the few incidents that have so far happened.
The government should, therefore, investigate the issue thoroughly and look into whether the incident was part of any malicious attempt to present the country in a bad light. The authorities should also remain alert to and go tough against quarters that appear out to destabilise the country and foil the aspirations of the July uprising.
