At least seven people were injured in Bogura on Wednesday afternoon when a group of individuals, allegedly under the banner of the Anti-Fascist Mancha, disrupted and attacked a national anthem program organized by Udichi Shilpigosthi.
The clash took place on Wednesday afternoon at Satmatha and Shaheed Khokon Park in the city.
According to the additional police superintendent (Media) of Bogra, Atoyar Rahman, tension arose between Udichi Shilpigosthi and the "Anti-Fascist Mancha" during their respective programs.
He said that despite the police presence, there was no significant damage or casualties.
Shahidur Rahman Biplab, the general secretary of Bogra Udichi Shilpigosthi, and other members informed that anti-independence forces had repeatedly conspired against the national anthem.
They emphasized that such actions could not be tolerated in the face of the bloodshed of millions of martyrs.
To resist the attempt to strip away the right to sing the national anthem, a program for a collective rendition of the national anthem was organized at the open stage in Satmatha at 5:30pm on Wednesday.
While the leaders and activists were preparing for the performance at the designated time, members of the “Anti-Fascist Mancha” attempted to block the event.
Upon police advice, they moved to the nearby party office. When further blocked there, they gathered at Shaheed Khokon Park.
Udichi President Sobhan Minnu, CPB General Secretary Aminul Farid, Chhatra Union President Bayezid Rahman, and Jubo Union President Farhana Akhter Shapla, among others, were present at the program.
As the collective rendition of the national anthem began, members of the Anti-Fascist Mancha arrived at the scene and started chanting slogans such as “Fake, fake,” “Agents of India, beware,” “Agents of RAW, beware,” “Traitors of August, beware,” “Delhi or Dhaka? Dhaka, Dhaka,” and “Slavery or freedom? Freedom, freedom.”
As protests escalated, the members of the Anti-Fascist Mancha attempted to attack the performers, leading to a confrontation.
During the scuffle, several individuals, including the President of the CPB (Communist Party of Bangladesh) Jinnatul Islam, President of the Chhatra Union Saddam Hossain, General Secretary Shaon Pal, General Secretary of the Agricultural Workers Association Shubha Shankar Guha Ray, and CPB Central Committee members Jhilam, Shamim Hossain Jewel, and Akash were injured.
After the clash, the members of the Anti-Fascist Mancha attempted to vandalize Udichi’s office, tearing down the signboard.
However, police intervened before they could cause further damage. Around 20 minutes later, the attackers declared they would return and left the area. Police were subsequently deployed to monitor the area.
When asked about the individuals responsible for the attack under the banner of the Anti-Fascist Mancha, the police were unable to provide clear information.
The leaders and activists of Udichi have claimed that the perpetrators of the attack are the same individuals responsible for various other incidents of violence across Bogra and the country.
They condemned the disruption of their scheduled program and expressed outrage over the attempts to prevent the singing of the national anthem.
They also demanded that those involved be brought to justice. Statements from the opposing group could not be obtained, as its members had already dispersed by the time of inquiry.
