'Violence causing irreparable damage to image of Bangladesh'
Times of India | 8 August 2024
Singer Rahul Ananda’s house in Dhaka was ransacked and set on fire KOLKATA: Bangladeshi folk singer Rahul Ananda and his family fled their 140-year-old rented home in Dhaka's Dhanmondi 32 on Monday as a group of armed men broke down the main gate, stormed into the house, ransacked the place and set fire to it.
Several videos and pictures have since been circulated online, eliciting widespread criticism, condemning the act and regretting the destruction of over 3,000 handcrafted musical instruments inside.
Pointing out that such images of mindless destruction dealt a grave blow to the image of their country, Bangladeshis, many of whom were part of the Long March on Monday that saw Sheikh Hasina fleeing, vehemently denounced the act of vandalism.
Those living in Bangaldesh as well as many others who have shifted elsewhere are concerned about the country's reputation taking a huge beating and the irreparable damage. Dhaka University professor Rafikul Hassan said while he had full support for the freedom movement, the violence that followed led to a "loss of face". "I have seen the photos and videos and I am ashamed.
This was not what our students lay their lives for. I am sure no student was part of any of this. The Bangladesh I know is very different from what I have been witnessing the past 72 hours.
olerance is the key here. The students have already appealed for peace. As citizens we need to rally with them and put up an ideal model of democracy and tolerance and then change the picture before the world," he said.
Last Saturday, musicians in Bangladesh had held a congregation at Dhanmundi to show their solidarity for the protesting students. "Musicians, accompanied by 4,000-5,000 students, marched from Rabindra Sarobar to Shahid Minar in Dhaka. Rahul-da and several other musicians arrived after 3 pm and assembled at Rabindra Sarobar.
Due to long-standing grievances, people resorted to vandalism, and there was complete lack of law and order. It's difficult to say if the attack on the house was targeted.
But it is evident people disrespectful of art and culture were active. Another reason for the attack was its location, it being next to Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.
As part of the movement, I denounce this plundering and bloodshed. It is portraying an exceedingly negative image of our nation, we do not desire that," said music researcher and cultural activist Gowtam K Shubho, administrator of Shonar Bangla Circus.
Actor Azmeri Haque Badhon felt such groups were "striving to disrupt the secular fabric of the nation". She told TOI: "This is an exceedingly abhorrent crime."
Dhaka-based writer Jobaed Ahsan still hopes for a changed situation with the formation of an interim govt. "This kind of a reaction is inevitable in any transition, more so, after 15 years of oppression. Some miscreants will take advantage. Evil people exist in all countries, but they are always very few in number. People in this country always want peace and they will fight this evil," Ahsan said from Dhaka.