To the police commissioner…
I would like to begin by thanking and congratulating you and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police for your help in ensuring that the area in front of our homes was not overwhelmed by eateries and music on Pahela Baishakh. The police did a commendable job of confining the music to areas adjoining Mirpur Road.
However, a front page report of The Daily Star is alarming: The BCL earned lakhs off noisy concerts on the Dhaka University campus and other areas on Pahela Baishak. Apparently, this was not enough because, on the 15th and the 16th the concerts continued in Dhanmondi. Today, the 17th of April, the drums and music have been on again -- since 10:00am -- as our creative giants rehearse! It is now close to 11:00am and it is difficult to describe the cacophonous effect of the sounds of drums and beats that invade, and override, the normal pulses of the body and normal rhythms of the mind that help sustain human life. This invasion even includes moments of prayer and reflection.
I called the OC repeatedly to complain and was told, last evening, that the BCL had been given permission by the DMP itself to hold the concerts and that he was helpless.
As such, I, on behalf of others in Dhanmondi -- many too afraid to speak up -- would earnestly like to request you to take the steps needed to put an end to the madness. If you need help from civil society, we are here.
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