No naach, gaan in Labagh, threatens ‘puritan’ group

A group of local residents briefly disrupted a cultural programme at Lalbagh Fort this evening, opposing what they described as a “song-and-dance” event near the historic Lalbagh Shahi Mosque and madrasa. The programme, organised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and managed by the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, was scheduled to begin at 7:00 pm to commemorate the 163rd birth anniversary of legendary musician Ustad Alauddin Khan. Protesters gathered at the fort’s entrance ahead of the event, chanting slogans such as “No song and dance on Lalbagh soil.” Some argued that public funds should not support performances they believed were incompatible with the religious sanctity of the adjacent mosque and Islamic seminary. “Our money won’t be spent on singing and dancing...