An attack took place on the stage prepared for the Pohela Boishakh celebrations at DC Hill in Chittagong city on Sunday evening.
The attackers vandalized the stage and tore down banners prepared for the event, reports Bangla Tribune.
Police later detained six individuals in connection with the incident.
The incident occurred around 7:15pm at the venue of the “Combined Pohela Boishakh Celebration Committee.”
The committee’s member secretary, Mohammad Ali Titu, told Bangla Tribune: “At around 7:15pm, 40 to 50 people stormed the stage shouting slogans like 'Swairachar-er doshor ra, hushiar—shabdhan' (Allies of the autocrat, beware).”
“They vandalized the stage and tore down banners. Our event was scheduled to begin on Monday morning. We had completed all necessary preparations,” he added.
He further said: “But now, after this attack, the situation is not favourable for holding the event tomorrow (Monday). However, we have not officially cancelled it yet. At the moment, we are not in a position to proceed with the arrangements.”
The committee’s coordinator Suchorit Dash Khokon said: “A group of people attacked our stage at DC Hill this evening. As a result, we no longer have the environment or preparations necessary to hold the program on Monday.”
Deputy Commissioner (South) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police Md Alamgir Hossain said: “A group of miscreants tore down the banner on the stage set up for the Pohela Boishakh event at DC Hill.”
He added: “However, the main structure of the stage remains intact. We have detained five people so far. They have been taken to the station, and we are interrogating them about the vandalism.”
Kotwali police station Officer-in-Charge Md Abdul Karim said: “Our force was already present at the venue. When a few miscreants tried to attack in the evening, we repelled them. The situation is now under control.”
The organizers said while the police claim to have repelled the attackers, chairs and parts of the stage structure still lay broken at the venue.
The attackers also tore down the pandal’s fabric and flex banners, they added.
Local sources say the Combined Pohela Boishakh Celebration Committee has been organizing events at DC Hill in Chittagong for the past 46 years to mark the Bangla New Year and the year’s end.
This year was set to be their 47th celebration. They applied for permission from the Chittagong district administration on February 13.
During a coordination meeting with the administration, officials initially withheld permission, citing security concerns. This put the organizers in a state of uncertainty.
Eventually, on April 10, during a meeting held at the district administration’s conference room, conditional approval was granted for the program to take place at DC Hill from morning till afternoon.
The conditions included that participating cultural organizations must submit song lists for pre-approval. A supervisory committee led by an executive magistrate was also formed.
Although organizers requested permission to hold the event from 7am to 5pm, the authorities asked that it conclude by 4pm.
The administration also requested that the organizers refrain from including any songs or poems that might be deemed “controversial.”
