Bangladesh School Event Turns Violent, James Concert Cancelled Taslima Nasreen Raises Alarm

Dhaka, Dec 27: A concert by legendary Bangladeshi rock singer James was cancelled late Friday night after violence broke out during a school event at Faridpur Zilla School, leaving at least 25 people injured, according to local media reports.

The performance was scheduled around 9.30 pm on the school campus as the closing highlight of the institution’s 185th anniversary celebrations. However, moments before James was set to take the stage, a group of outsiders allegedly attempted to force their way into the venue, triggering chaos.

According to reports, the anniversary programme was restricted to registered former and current students. News of James’s appearance attracted a large crowd of non invitees, many of whom gathered along nearby Mujib Road after being denied entry. In an attempt to ease tensions, organisers arranged projectors outside the campus to allow them to watch the event, but the situation continued to escalate.

Around 9.30 pm, some individuals reportedly tried to climb the school’s boundary wall. When security personnel and students intervened, stones and bricks were allegedly hurled towards the school premises and the stage. Several people inside the campus sustained injuries during the stone-pelting, Prothom Alo reported.

By around 10.00 pm, organisers announced the cancellation of the concert following instructions from the district administration, according to deshkalnews.com. Rajibul Hasan Khan, a member of the event’s publicity and media committee, said the organisers were still unsure about the identity of those responsible or the motive behind the violence. He said between 15 and 20 students were injured.

The two-day anniversary programme began on Thursday and was scheduled to conclude with cultural performances, a raffle draw and James’s concert as the main attraction. Established in 1840 during British rule, Faridpur Zilla School is among Bangladesh’s oldest government run educational institutions and has long played a key role in the region’s cultural and social life.

Reacting to the incident, noted writer Taslima Nasreen linked the cancellation of James’s concert to what she described as a broader pattern of attacks on cultural spaces in Bangladesh. In a post on X, she alleged that extremist groups were increasingly targeting secular and progressive cultural institutions, including Chhayanaut and Udichi. Referring to the Faridpur incident, Nasreen claimed that James was prevented from performing due to such pressures.

She also cited recent cases involving Indian classical musicians, claiming that concerns over safety had led artists to cancel or decline performances in Dhaka. According to her post, sarodist Siraj Ali Khan, grandson of maestro Ali Akbar Khan, returned to India without performing, while Arman Khan, son of Ustad Rashid Khan, reportedly declined an invitation citing similar fears.

James, the lead singer of the rock band Nagar Baul, is one of Bangladesh’s most popular musicians and enjoys a strong following across South Asia. He has also sung hit Hindi film songs, including Bheegi Bheegi from Gangster and Alvida from Life in a… Metro.

Observers say the cancellation of a concert by an artist of James’s stature underscores growing concerns over the safety of cultural events in Bangladesh. The interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus has faced criticism from sections of civil society over law and order issues, with critics warning that continued unrest could affect the country’s political and electoral timeline.