Saturday, March 29, 2025
Attack on Singer James’ Show: Crisis Looms Over Art and Music in Bangladesh
Dhaka, December 27, 2025 – As political unrest escalates in Bangladesh, cultural events are increasingly under threat. Rioters disrupted a concert by popular singer James at a school 120 kilometers from Dhaka, pelting stones and forcing organizers to cancel the show.
Around 9 PM, as the program was set to begin, a large mob stormed the school premises and began hurling bricks and stones. Students present tried to stop the attackers, but escalating violence left organizers with no choice but to call off the event.
The incident is seen as part of nationwide unrest following the death of Inquilab Mancha leader Usman Hadi and the killing of Deepu Das. Protests have intensified, with demonstrators blocking major roads and demanding justice.
Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen, based in India, expressed profound grief over the attack. She warned that extremists now aim to eradicate music, theater, and dance. Nasreen noted that just two days earlier, Ustad Rashid Khan’s son Armaan Khan was also prevented from performing. According to her, Bangladesh is falling under the grip of jihadists who despise music and secularism.
After Friday prayers, massive demonstrations erupted at Dhaka University and Shahbagh area. Inquilab Mancha supporters jammed key roads, halting all traffic. Protesters vowed to continue their sit-ins until justice is served for their leader’s murder.
James is Bangladesh’s biggest rock star, with a massive fan following in India too. He has lent his voice to Bollywood hits like “Bhigi Bhigi” from Gangster and “Alvida” from Life in a Metro.
This attack highlights growing tensions between political activism and cultural expression in Bangladesh, raising fears for the future of artistic freedom.
