2 detained for questioning over Islamic song at Ctg Puja mandap

Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) said today (11 October) that two people have only been detained for questioning in connection with the performance of an Islamic song on the stage of a Durga Puja mandap in Chattogram city.

Six members of Chattogram Cultural Academy yesterday evening (10 October) took the stage at the JM Sen Hall mandap in the city's Rahmatganj area to perform following an invitation from Chattogram Puja Udjapan Parishad Joint General Secretary Sajal Dutta, said CMP Deputy Commissioner (DC - Crime and Operations) Md Roish Uddin.

Speaking at a press conference held at Dampara Police Lines to address the incident and following development, Roish identified the two detainees as Shahidul Islam, 42, a teacher at Tanzimul Ummah Madrasah, and Md Nurul Islam, 34, a teacher at Darul Irfan Madrasah.

Both were among the six cultural academy members who performed two songs on stage, said DC Roish, adding that the duo was taken into custody during raids last night.

He said that after the cultural programme started at the puja mandap yesterday afternoon, the academy's members — Shahidul, Nurul, Abdullah Iqbal, Rony, Golam Mostofa and Md Mamun — arrived at the venue and performed the songs on stage after Sajal invited them.

The two Bengali songs they performed were "Age Ki Sundor Din Kataitam" by Baul Shah Abdul Karim and "Shudhu Musolmaner Lagi Aseniko Islam" by Chowdhury Abdul Halim.

Tension rose as Hindu devotees present at the venue expressed displeasure over the second song, while a video of the performance went viral on Facebook soon after and sparked controversy, said DC Roish.

"We are investigating whether this was an attempt to ignite a communal conflict. We are questioning the two detainees and working on taking the other performers into custody," he said.

Moreover, he said, police were looking for Sajal, who went into hiding right after the incident. "We are looking into their political affiliations and possible malicious intent, if there are any. Based on what we learn from interrogations, we will take further legal steps including filing a case," said the CMP official.

Earlier in the day, CMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Kazi Mohammad Tarek Aziz told The Business Standard that two people were arrested after a case was filed over the incident at the mandap at JM Sen Hall, famous as the port city's first town hall.

Regarding the incident, Hillu Sen Ujjal, general secretary of the Chattogram Puja Udpajan Parishad, yesterday evening told The Business Standard, "I wasn't present when the songs were performed. The group went on stage after Sajal Dutta spoke with them. We are discussing the matter."

When asked about rumours that the group forcibly took the stage, Hillu Sen clarified that they performed with permission.

Amid the many discussions regarding the video online, some were linking the group with Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir. However, both Jamaat and Shibir have said that the musical group was not affiliated with any of their wings.

Chattogram Cultural Academy also denied any link with Jamaat or Shibir. It also rejected the allegations that they forcibly took the stage, stressing they were invited by the puja committee to perform.