Chittagong Metropolitan Police is looking into whether there was any malicious intent behind the performance of Islamic songs at JM Sen Hall during a Durga Puja event in Chittagong, Deputy Commissioner Md Roish Uddin has said.
Police had detained two madrasa teachers – Shahidul Karim, 42, from Tanzimum Umma Madrasa, and Nurul Islam, 34, from Darul Irfan Madrasa – in connection with the incident, the CMP officer confirmed while briefing the press on Friday.
He said police were interrogating them to determine if they had any political affiliations.
Authorities said the two had been invited to the event by Sajal Dutta, joint secretary of the local puja celebration council.
No case had been filed yet in connection with the incident, Roish told the media.
In response to a question, the officer said police were trying to contact those who had invited the madrasa teachers, particularly Sajal Dutta, but they had not yet been able to locate him. "We are making efforts to find him for further questioning," he added.
“The controversy arose during a cultural program held at the puja mandap on the occasion of Durga Puja. Attendees were enjoying the performances when members of the Chittagong Cultural Academy went on the stage at the request of a puja committee member. They performed two songs, one of which resonated with the audience and subsequently went viral on social media.”
"A case is being prepared… We are investigating the motive behind their presence and whether any political elements are involved,” the deputy commissioner added.
Hillol Sen, general secretary of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad’s Chittagong metropolitan unit, said: "Although they were supposed to perform patriotic songs, they instead performed Islamic songs, which sparked outrage among the Hindu community. We have decided to immediately remove Sajal Dutta from his position as joint secretary of the council."
The incident came to light after a video of six members of the Chittagong Cultural Academy performing Islamic songs at JM Sen Hall in Andarkilla went viral on Facebook on Thursday evening. The songs performed included "Gramer Nawjowan Hindu Musolman" and "Shudhu Muslimer Lagi."
The performances received mixed reactions from the Hindu community, with some alleging that the organization was linked to the Jamaat-e-Islami.
In a statement, Fakhrul Islam, president of the Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir’s Chittagong north branch, denied any involvement in the incident.
"Some individuals performed songs at the JM Sen Hall puja mandap, and false propaganda is being spread on social media linking Chhatra Shibir to this incident," Fakhrul said.
"We want to categorically say that Chhatra Shibir has no connection to this activity. None of our members were present at the puja mandap. We strongly condemn and protest this falsehood.
"Chhatra Shibir believes that every individual should practice their religion in their own way, and we respect that. We urge everyone not to believe in such baseless propaganda against Chhatra Shibir."
