A Beloved Homeland Riding a Bizarre Camel’s Back

When a country’s artists are assaulted by extremist militants rather than protected by the justice system, public concern for the safety of ordinary citizens is not only natural but inevitable. Over the past fifteen months, Bangladesh’s cultural sphere has been shrouded in a suffocating cloud of fear. The arrest of Baul singer Abul Sarkar and the violent attacks on his followers have deepened that anxiety even further.

🔸 Suppression of Dissent in the Name of ‘Blasphemy’

In the early hours of 20 November 2025, Baul singer Abul Sarkar was arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) of Manikganj Police from a programme in Madaripur, under the allegation of “hurting religious sentiments” and “insulting Islam” during a musical performance. Baul adherents and cultural activists insist that he made no such remark. The use of such baseless accusations to detain an artist is not an isolated incident; rather, it appears to be an extension of the so-called “purification campaign” carried out by the July extremist militant faction.

One cannot help noticing:
When certain influential figures make controversial remarks—for instance, when Bibi Khadija (RA) was allegedly insulted by Dr Yunus—the shield of “religious sentiment” is hardly wielded with the same zeal. Yet for Bauls and others holding alternative philosophical views, the smallest accusation swiftly invites lawsuits and arrest.

Is the law meant only for artists?
This double standard raises a troubling question: has the allegation of “religious insult” been weaponised as a convenient tool to crush dissent?

🔸 Mediaeval Barbarity: Attack on a Human Chain

On 23 November 2025, cultural workers and followers gathered in Manikganj to form a peaceful human chain demanding the release of Baul singer Abul Sarkar. What followed was nothing short of grotesque. Under the banner of the so-called “Tawhidi Janata”, members of the July extremist militant group launched a brutal attack on the protesters. The violence became so ferocious that Baul followers and cultural activists were forced to leap into a pond to save their lives. Scenes reminiscent of mediaeval barbarity unfolded in broad daylight—an alarming indication of the direction in which society is heading.

What is even more disturbing is that the assault took place in front of law-enforcement officers. According to eyewitnesses, police presence resembled that of silent “watchmen” or even “bodyguards” of the attackers. Their passivity emboldened the extremists further—an extremely tragic and shameful reality. The nation expects a responsible role from its law-enforcement agencies, not silent complicity.

🔸 A Shift in the Landscape and the Political Rise of Extremists

The turbulence within the cultural sphere signals a broader, more dangerous transformation. The July extremist faction has declared cultural activities “haram”, launching wave after wave of attacks. More than two hundred shrines have been vandalised; countless individuals have been branded apostates or “kafirs”; corpses have been unearthed and burned; Bauls and Fakirs have had their dreadlocks chopped off; women have been harassed over clothing; and musical and theatrical events have been violently disrupted. These incidents are collectively creating an increasingly suffocating environment.

This Pakistan-leaning extremist group shows no loyalty whatsoever to the spirit of Bangladesh’s independence. They are, in essence, anti-liberation forces determined to dismantle the country’s secular heritage and pluralistic traditions.

It is now evident that the political rise of this extremist faction has been facilitated under both domestic and foreign patronage. After seizing power through militant attacks in July last year and installing their backed, illegal Yunus regime, no one—from ordinary citizens to the artist community—has been spared. Anyone who does not conform to their ideology becomes a target of harassment, lawsuits, and physical assault. These are no longer isolated incidents; they represent a coordinated attempt to impose an extremist ideology upon the nation—one that stands in direct opposition to the fundamental spirit of the Liberation War.

🔸 The Role of the State and the Safety of Public Life

In a society where an artist may be arrested on fabricated charges and where peaceful demonstrators demanding his release are attacked openly, the plight of ordinary citizens becomes easy to imagine. Whether it is law-enforcement inactivity or outright bias towards extremists, both exacerbate the crisis. The rule of law and constitutional rights—particularly freedom of expression and cultural liberty as guaranteed by Article 39 of the Constitution—are now in a perilous state.

Across the nation, people are living in uncertainty, feeling increasingly hostage to extremist violence. Ordinary citizens wait helplessly, wondering who will rescue the country from these militants. But who will listen to the voices of the people? Who will bring the nation down from this bizarre camel’s back?

At this critical moment, the state must fulfil its responsibilities.
The immediate, unconditional release of Baul artist Abul Sarkar is essential. Those involved in extremist attacks must be identified and brought to justice without delay. The state must uphold the right to artistic and cultural freedom, along with freedom of expression. The protests and appeals of 258 prominent citizens and the wider cultural community must be taken seriously. Yet the illegal Yunus government, propped up by July extremists, remains indifferent to these demands.

Bangladesh achieved independence on the foundation of secular values. The Constitution guarantees each citizen the freedom to practise and express culture. That spirit cannot be allowed to perish. To resist these forces that seek to destroy the nation’s humanistic and cultural ethos, all democratic and sovereignty-loving citizens must unite, irrespective of political affiliation.

S M Kamruzzaman Sagor
Filmmaker, Organiser, Online Activist

Khoborwala / TSN