Qawmi students demand cancellation of Bbaria college concert

The Qawmi Chhatra Oikya Parishad has demanded the cancellation of a concert planned at Brahmanbaria Government College as part of its freshers' reception programme, citing concerns over religious and social values, public safety and previous incidents linked to musical events in the district.

The organisation submitted separate memorandums to Brahmanbaria-3 lawmaker Khaled Hossain Mahbub and District Council Administrator Sirajul Islam on Friday night, urging them to intervene and stop the event scheduled for September 14.

In the memorandums, the Qawmi students described Brahmanbaria as a district with a longstanding tradition of Islamic scholarship and religious values. They argued that while welcoming new students should be festive, such programmes should not undermine the educational environment, social order, public safety or the religious and social sentiments of local residents.

The organisation also referred to previous “undesirable incidents and accidents” at concerts and musical programmes in Brahmanbaria, saying public concerns surrounding such events should not be ignored.

Fuzayel Ahmed Khan, a member of the Brahmanbaria Qawmi Chhatra Oikya Parishad, said the group had raised its concerns in the memorandums.

He referred to a recent incident in which 30 students were reportedly injured at a concert and questioned why another such event was being organised within a month.

“How can they organise another concert so soon after what happened? It feels like rubbing salt into a wound.''

Fuzayel also claimed that a freshman reception concert at the college had been discontinued eight or nine years ago following an alleged incident of harassment involving a female student.

“Why was the concert stopped then? Do they want to bring back a programme where female students could face harassment?” 

However, Brahmanbaria Government College Principal Prof AKM Obaidul Haque said he was not officially aware of the memorandums submitted by the students.

“They have not approached us. If they inform us of their concerns and provide any recommendations, we will take measures in accordance with the rules.” 

The principal also rejected the description of the programme as simply a concert, saying the college was planning a broader cultural programme.

“It is not a concert in that sense. We are organising a cultural programme. We have three activities planned -- a freshman reception, a cultural programme and a tree-planting programme,” Obaidul Haque added.