Police have released Dipak Shil, former president of Bangladesh Chhatra Union, after detaining him during a human chain by artists and cultural activists at Dhanmondi 27 in the capital on Monday.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Mohammadpur Police Station Abdul Halim confirmed the matter on Monday night, saying Dipak was freed after questioning.
Chhatra Union Secretary Bahauddin Shuvo also confirmed it in a Facebook post around 9:00pm.
The human chain was organised under the banner of “Protesting Artists and People” to protest attacks on Baul music and other cultural events in different parts of the country in the name of “Tawhidi Janata”.
The programme was scheduled for Monday afternoon on Dhanmondi 27 Road, but police obstructed the gathering and detained Dipak.
Actress Sumana Soma, who attended the programme, said they had gathered to protest attacks on Bauls and obstruction of cultural events across the country.
“When police obstructed us, we protested. Police personnel then dragged us towards their vehicle, while Dipak was taken away in a police van,” she said.
Cultural activist Faruk H Khan condemned the cancellation of Baul music programmes, obstruction of protests by artists and citizens, and alleged interference with the namaz- e- janaza and burial of freedom fighter Manik Pashari.
He said Baul traditions and Bengali culture were facing continued attacks across the country. He also alleged that anti-liberation forces and militant fundamentalist groups were behind the incidents.