The Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) have detained two people for their involvement in performing Islamic songs at a Durga Puja mandap in Chittagong.
The two have been identified as Shahidul Karim and Nurul Islam.
Further details of the arrestees and the incident would be announced at a press briefing later Friday.
CMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Kazi Tarek Aziz confirmed the matter.
Several witnesses said that six members of a cultural group called Chittagong Cultural Academy performed two songs at the Durga Puja stage, one of which was titled "Shudhu Musolmaner Lagi Aseniko Islam".
A source linked to the event claimed that the organization is supported by Jamaat-e-Islami.
The video of the performance went viral on social media, sparking widespread criticism. In response, Chittagong Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanom, CMP Commissioner Hasib Aziz, and officials from the army and other administrative bodies visited the site.
Farida assured that those involved would be arrested within 48 hours.
When asked about the incident, Chittagong Cultural Academy President Selim Zaman told Prothom Alo that they performed at the invitation of Puja Udjapan Parishad's Joint Secretary, Sajal Dutta.
He added that they performed two songs promoting harmony and that the video was being misrepresented by certain individuals through editing.
However, the fact-checking organization Rumor Scanner reviewed the video and confirmed on their Facebook page that the video is real.
When inquired about the Chittagong Cultural Academy, Fakhrul Islam, president of Chittagong North unit Chhatra Shibir, said that it is not affiliated with Shibir.
However, a Jamaat-e-Islami leader said that the Chittagong Cultural Academy is a group supported by them, reports Prothom Alo.
According to sources from the Puja Udjapan Parishad, a dance program was being held on stage on Thursday evening when several young men arrived and requested to perform patriotic songs.
No one intervened or protested during the performance.
When contacted, Sukanta Mahajan, finance secretary of the Chittagong Metropolitan Puja Udjapan Parishad, said that the young men had approached Joint Secretary Sajal Dutta with a request to perform patriotic songs. They performed their songs and left.
