Bauls, Fakirs, and Sadhus have been an essential element in artistic Bengali culture. Their music carrying the words of celestial love and the love of nature. But time and time again this marginalized group have faced discrimination and persecution from the hands of those who oppose them.
On June 26, Llon devotee Chayna Begum’s house was destroyed by vandals. They even threatened to kill her if she was found there at night. Over time, we have seen many forms of aggression against Bauls, Fakirs, and Sadhus, such as shaving their heads, destroying their homes and musical instruments, evicting them, and socially disgracing them.
After reporting to the local authorities, this incident is currently being investigated. About sixty artists including musicians, cultural workers, filmmakers, actors, and writers of Bangladesh, have written a statement to raise statement to raise awareness and bring light to this incidents.
Their demands include:
- Ensuring Security: Take appropriate measures to ensure the safety & security of Bauls, Fakirs, and Lalon followers.
- Legal Protection: Ensure prompt justice and punishment for any attacks or persecution against them.
- Cultural Respect: Provide complete freedom for their cultural activities without any obstruction.
- Raising Awareness: Increase public awareness about the culture of Bauls, Fakirs, and Lalon followers. Bauls, Fakirs, and rural poets are part of our cultural history and heritage. Persecuting and dishonouring them not only affects their personal lives but also harms our national pride and culture.Therefore, we urgently call on the government to take effective steps to stop the persecution againstthem immediately. We also request that instructions be given to various levels of administration -district, sub-district, union, and village - to ensure their protection and respect.
The artist that took part in this movement are, Ahmed Hasan Sunny (Musician), Altaf Shahnewaz (Writer), Amirul Rajiv (Art Curator), Arifur Rahman (Filmmaker), Armeen Musa (Musician), Arzeen (Musician), Asif Iqbal Aontu (Musician, Kaaktaal), Autumnal Moon (Musician), Bappa Mazumder (Musician), Eon (Poet), Faria Ulfath Syed (Musician, Tulkalam), George Lincoln D’Costa (Musician, Artcell), Gowtam K Shuvo (Music Researcher), (Jewel Kolindo (Poet), Joy Shahriar (Musician), Kanak Aditya (Artist), Kishore Das (Musician), KP Razib (Musician), Krishnendu Chattopadhyay (Filmmaker), Kumar Bishwajit (Musician), Maqsoodul Haque (Musician, Maqsood O Dhaka), Manoj Pramanik (Actor and Teacher), Manosh Chowdhury (Teacher and Writer), Meer Masum (Musician, Souls), Milu Aman (Music Researcher), Mostofa Sarwar Farooki (Filmmaker), Prince Mahmud (Musician), Probar Ripon (Musician, Shonar Bangla Circus), Rahul Ananda (Artist, Joler Gaan), Rajib Mahmud Shanto (Musician), Raju (Musician), Rakibul Hasan (Musician, Organizer), Rashed Zaman (Cinematographer), Rezaul Karim Leemon (Musician), Robiul Alam Robi (Filmmaker), Sadia Khalid Reeti (Film Critic), Sadia Seraj Saba (Musician), Sameer Ahmed (Filmmaker), Shahid Mahmud Jangi (Lyricist), Shahriar Shawon (Artist), Shafiq Tuhin (Musician), Shabnam Ferdousi (Filmmaker), Shangkha Dasgupta (Filmmaker), Sharmee Hossain (Musician), Sharmin Lucky (Artist), Sheikh Monirul Alam Tipu (Musician, Warfaze), Shibu Kumar Shil (Musician, Meghdol), Sina Hasan (Musician, Bangla Five), Soikat Biswas Tutul (Organizer), Unmesh Roy (Teacher), Xaved Hoque (Music Patron, Heavy Metal T-shirt), Yamin Rahman Iskra (Musician, Swarobanjo), Ziaur Rahman (Musician, Shironamhin), and Rudro Huq (Poet).
