Advocate Shahanur Islam: Attack on baul gathering in Kushtia; 8 injured

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Thursday, November 10, 2022

Attack on baul gathering in Kushtia; 8 injured

A group of villagers allegedly attacked a baul gathering in Kushtia's Daulatpur Upazila last (November 5, 2022) night, leaving 8 bauls injured.

The injured are undergoing treatment at Daulatpur Upazila Health Complex, said Mujibur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Daulatpur Police Station.The incident took place in Laubaria village around 8:30 pm, the OC told our Kushtia correspondent.

The injured includes Palan Mandal (37), Palash Mandal (30), Pravin Sadhu Fazal Fakir (70), Majeda Fakirani (50) and Akalima Khatun (40).

Locals said Lalon devotee Palan Mandal of Laubaria village organised a two-day long event of baul worship at his home last night like previous years. Baul, Sadhus, Lalon devotees and followers from different places joined the programme.

Talking to this correspondent, an injured baul, seeking anonymity, said around 8:30pm, a group of villagers equipped with homemade weapons attacked the bauls gathered there.

Baul Majeda Fakirani said the attackers beat up the bauls indiscriminately with sharp weapons and sticks but the bauls did not protest.

When Palan Mandal, who organised the event, tried to stop the attackers, he was beaten up. The injured bauls were admitted to Daulatpur Upazila Health Complex.

Baul Palan Mandal later filed a general dairy with Daulatpur Police Station this (November 6, 2022) afternoon.

However, no one was detained or arrested, the complainants said.

OC Mujibur Rahman said as HSC examination began across the country today, the neighbours went to Sadhusang and asked them to stop the music. The attack took place following an altercation between them.

He said the police have received the complaint. Legal action will be taken after investigation.

Bauls are members of a nonconformist Bengalese sect having gurus but no dogmas, rituals, religious institutions, or scriptures, according to Collins .

============================================================ Advocate Shahanur Islam | An Young, Ascendant, Dedicated Human Rights Defender, Lawyer and Blogger in Bangladesh, Fighting for Ensuring Human Rights, Rule of Law, Good Governance, Peace and Social Justice For the Victim of Torture, Extra Judicial Killing, Force Disappearance, Trafficking in Persons including Ethnic, Religious, Sexual and Social Minority People.