James announces: Faridpur concert cancelled

On Friday, the much-anticipated concert of the legendary Bangladeshi musician James, also known as “Nagar Baul,” in Faridpur was abruptly cancelled following a series of violent incidents outside the venue. The event, organised to mark the 185th anniversary and reunion of Faridpur Zilla School, ended in chaos when unruly outsiders threw bricks at the school premises, forcing organisers to call off the performance.

According to Rubaiyat Thakur Robin, spokesperson for James and Nagar Baul, they arrived in Faridpur at 7:30 pm to participate in the programme. “Shortly after the event began, we were informed of disorder outside the venue. At that time, we were at the guest house. Around 10:30 pm, when the situation escalated, we were officially informed that the concert had been cancelled, and we returned to Dhaka,” Robin told Prothom Alo.

James himself described the incident as “a complete failure on the part of the organisers.”

Sources within the organising committee explained that the reunion and cultural programme was intended exclusively for registered former and current students. However, thousands of unregistered spectators, drawn by the presence of James, gathered outside the venue. Denied entry, many of them positioned themselves along the adjacent Mujib Road. In an attempt to pacify the crowd, the organisers set up two projectors outside.

Despite these measures, at around 9:30 pm, some outsiders attempted to scale the walls and enter the school premises. When the security personnel intervened, the crowd began hurling bricks at the audience and the stage. As a result, 25–30 people were injured, while 4–5 individuals managed to enter the grounds, only to be confronted by students.

Considering the escalating violence, Benjir Ahmed Tabreez, a former student of Faridpur Zilla School and member of the security subcommittee, announced the cancellation of the cultural programme just before 10 pm. Tabreez reported that around 20–25 people, including reunion committee chief Mostafizur Rahman Shamim, were injured, with several requiring hospitalisation.

Meanwhile, Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Shahidul Islam of Faridpur Kotwali Police Station stated that 20,000–25,000 people had gathered outside the school after news of James’ attendance. “It was impossible to accommodate such a large crowd inside the school grounds. Minor disturbances occurred when outsiders were denied entry, and ultimately the entire programme was cancelled to maintain order,” he added.

Summary of Incident:

The cancellation has sparked widespread disappointment among fans, with many expressing frustration over the organisers’ inability to manage the crowd effectively. The incident has reignited debates about security measures and crowd control at large public events in Bangladesh.