Police allegedly disrupted a human chain organised by artists and cultural activists on Dhanmondi Road 27 in Dhaka on Monday and detained Dipak Shil, a former president of Bangladesh Chhatra Union, according to the organisers.
The protest, scheduled for 4:00pm on October 26, was organised to condemn the alleged obstruction of female Baul singers from performing in Sunamganj.
Organised by a platform called ‘Protesting Artists and People’, the human chain was also intended to protest attacks on cultural activists, Baul music performances and other cultural events by groups operating in the name of ‘Touhidi Janata’.
A heavy presence of law enforcement personnel was seen at the venue from the afternoon.
Several artists and cultural activists arrived before the programme began, including actress Sumona Soma, theatre activist Ehsanul Aziz Babu, former Chhatra Union president Dipak Shil and labour leader Murshikul Islam Shimul.
According to the organisers, police later took Dipak away in a van after a dispute over chanting the slogan “Joy Bangla”.
Actress Sumona Soma said they had gathered to protest attacks on Baul singers and restrictions on cultural events across the country.
“A police officer said we could not chant ‘Joy Bangla’. We protested, and the police later took Dipak away. We condemn the incident,” she said.
“‘Joy Bangla’ represents the identity of the Bengali people and the achievements of our Liberation War. We will continue to chant this slogan, and no one can stop us,” she added.
Abdul Halim, officer-in-charge of Mohammadpur Police Station under the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), said a person named Dipak had been detained and taken to the police station for questioning.
“He is being questioned,” the OC said.