‘July Mancha’ disrupts Baul protest at Shahbagh

Police did not intervene, organisers allege

A protest demanding justice for attacks on Baul singers and the release of detained artiste Abul Sarkar had been disrupted in Shahbagh after a confrontation with a group identifying themselves as members of “July Mancha”.

The scuffle broke out around 5pm on Friday outside the Shahbagh Public Library, where cultural group Sampriti Jatra was holding a programme titled “Ganer Artonad” (The Cry of Song).

Organisers alleged the group arrived with a march, demanded the event be stopped, and chanted slogans against Baul Sarkar.

Tension rose quickly, leading to a scuffle during which the attackers damaged the backdrop behind the stage.

Singer Bithi Ghosh, one of the organisers, said: “Our event had begun, discussions were taking place. At that moment, a group using the name ‘July Mancha’ arrived and objected to the programme.

“They broke the backdrop. They pushed and shoved, but we did not respond. We told them to let us continue and to hold their own programme elsewhere. After they left, we resumed the event.

Organisers said the incident occurred in front of Shahbagh Police Station, but police remained “passive”.

Shahbagh Police chief Md Khalid Monsur said, “We have not received any complaint of an attack, and nothing of that sort has come to our notice.”