Chittagong: Discussions are going on about the performance of 'Islamic songs' in a Durga Puja mandapam in the city.
However, in such a situation, Chittagong Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanam went to that pujamandap at night and promised to arrest those involved in the incident within 48 hours.
On Thursday (October 10) evening, six members of a cultural organization named Chittagong Cultural Academy performed 'Islamic song' in the pavilion of JM Sen Hall in Rahmatganj of the city.
They performed two songs at the event.
One of these songs was 'Shudhu Musalmaner Lagi Aseniko Islam'. When the video of the song spread on social media, discussion and criticism started.
When asked about this, Chittagong Cultural Academy President Salim Zaman told the media that they went to perform music there on the invitation of Puja Udyapan Parishad Joint Secretary Sajal Dutt.
The president of the academy claimed that some people are spreading misinformation by editing the video.
However, after verifying the video of the event spread on Facebook, the fact checking organization Rumor Scanner said on their Facebook page that the video of the song in Pujamandape is original and not edited.
Chittagong Cultural Academy is known to be supported by Jamaat-e-Islami. A Jamaat-e-Islami leader confirmed to the media that the academy is a cultural organization supported by Jamaat-e-Islami.
When asked about the academy, Chittagong Nagar (North) Chhatra Shibir President Fakhrul Islam said, it is not an organization of Chhatra Shibir.
When asked about the incident, Sukant Mahajan, finance secretary of Chittagong Mahanagar Puja Udyapan Parishad, said that the young people came and told Sajal Dutt, Joint Secretary of the Parishad, that they will perform patriotic songs on stage.
Later they got up and started singing. He said that they left after the song.
Several attempts were made to contact Sajal Dutt on his mobile phone to find out about this, but his phone was switched off.
Many of the witnesses said that during the incident, Chittagong's court declared city mayor and former convener of BNP. Shahadat Hossain and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Shahjahan Chowdhury of Chittagong City were present.
However, Shahadat Hossain did not pick up the call when contacted to inquire about this. And Jamaat leader Shahjahan Chowdhury claimed that he did not go to any pujamandap that day.
Chittagong Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanam went to the spot at around 10:30 pm to discuss and criticize the video.
At that time, he said, whoever is involved in this incident, they will be arrested within 24 to 48 hours. The police commissioner will be informed to take up the case in this regard within the night.
Bangladesh Time: 0302 hours, October 11, 2024
RH
