A cultural event featuring Baul music in Dirai Upazila of Sunamganj faced significant disruption on Thursday night (Oct 24) after a local faction raised objections citing concerns over the participation of female artists. While authorities initially intervened to halt the proceedings following formal complaints, local residents confirmed that a scaled-back version of the musical performance eventually took place later that night.
The event was hosted at the residence of expatriate Shawkat Ali in Hatiya village, situated within the Kulanj Union. The location holds cultural significance due to its proximity to Ujandhal village, the ancestral home of the late Baul legend Shah Abdul Karim. According to local accounts and police reports, Mr. Ali had organized the performance to mark his daughter’s birthday.
Tensions emerged on Wednesday (Oct 23) when two local residents submitted an application to the Dirai Police Station, demanding the cancellation of the event due to the inclusion of female performers. In response to the complaint, law enforcement officials contacted Mr. Ali, who initially declared that the performance would be canceled to avoid conflict. Kamrul Hasan, one of the individuals who filed the complaint, stated that their opposition was specifically aimed at the presence of female singers. Mr. Hasan further alleged that although they informed the police when music began at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, officers did not arrive at the scene.
Dirai Police Station Officer-in-Charge Aminul Islam noted on Friday (Oct 25) that the event location is in a remote area, roughly three hours from the station headquarters. The officer confirmed that Mr. Ali had agreed to cancel the program earlier on Thursday following police intervention. However, the police later received reports that the musical gathering proceeded on a limited scale, lasting until roughly 2:00 a.m. Attempts to reach Mr. Ali for comment on Friday afternoon were unsuccessful as he did not respond to multiple phone calls.
This incident follows a series of similar societal tensions in Dirai. Earlier this month, a friendly women’s football match scheduled for October 5 at the Dirai Upazila Stadium between the local Swapnachura Sporting Club and Sylhet’s Jara Sporting Club was cancelled due to opposition from a group identifying itself as the Committee for the Prevention of Anti-Islamic Activities in Dirai. That cancellation sparked widespread debate and criticism regarding cultural freedom within the region. Kulanj Union Parishad Chairman Ekarar Hossain expressed confusion over the latest developments, noting that the expatriate host is a known patron of the arts who frequently organizes such events during his visits to Bangladesh.
