Madrasa students seek cancellation of Brahmanbaria college concert

A madrasa students’ organisation has demanded cancellation of a concert scheduled for Monday at Brahmanbaria Government College as part of its freshman reception programme.

The Qawmi Chhatra Oikya Parishad yesterday submitted separate memoranda to Md Khaled Hossain Mahboob, lawmaker from Brahmanbaria-3 (Sadar and Bijoynagar), and Sirajul Islam, administrator of the district council, urging them to take steps to stop the programme.

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In the memoranda, the organisation said Brahmanbaria has a long association with Islam, religious scholarship and religious values, which are closely connected with the district’s social and cultural environment.

It said freshman receptions can be festive occasions, but such programmes should not conflict with the educational environment, public safety, social order or the religious and social values of the local community.

The organisation also cited previous “unpleasant incidents and accidents” involving concerts and musical programmes in the district. It further referred to a comment by the home minister that music and singing were “much like banned” in Brahmanbaria.

The demand comes less than a month after a clash between police and madrasa students over loud music at a cultural programme held at Brahmanbaria Police Lines on August 18 during a visit by the Chattogram Range deputy inspector general.

According to the organisation, 30 madrasa students and several police personnel were injured in the clash.

Fuzayel Ahmed Khan, a member of the Qawmi Chhatra Oikya Parishad, said the organisation had outlined its concerns in the memoranda.

“Why is another concert being organised so soon after the August 18 incident? It is like rubbing salt into the wound,” he said.

Fuzayel also claimed that a similar programme at the college was stopped eight or nine years ago after a female student was allegedly subjected to eve-teasing.

MP Khaled Hossain confirmed receiving the memoranda and said the college authorities would decide on the matter.

College Principal Prof AKM Obaidul Haque, however, said he was not “officially aware” of the memoranda and that the organisation had not submitted any memorandum to the college.

“If they inform us and give us their suggestions, we will take measures in accordance with the rules,” he said.

He said the programme was not a conventional concert but a cultural event. The college has planned a freshman reception, a cultural programme and tree plantation, he added.

Earlier on May 30, a screening of Bonolota Express at Annanda Government High School in Brahmanbaria town was also stopped following objections from Qawmi students.