Disorder at Faridpur Zilla School reunion; Nagar Baul James’ concert canceled

PNN News Desk, Faridpur

The much-anticipated concert of popular musician Nagar Baul James in Faridpur ultimately did not take place. The concert was scheduled as part of the 185th anniversary celebration of Faridpur Zilla School and its alumni reunion. Organizers were forced to cancel the concert on the final day of the event due to chaotic circumstances. However, James and his team directly blamed the organizers’ mismanagement and inadequate preparations for the incident.

On Friday evening, large crowds gathered around Faridpur Zilla School for the concert. The organizing committee had announced that the event was restricted to registered current and former students. But as news of James’ concert spread, thousands of unregistered attendees showed up. Denied entry inside, they remained outside.

Although the organizers arranged for a large screen outside to broadcast the event, the situation remained uncontrollable. As night fell, some outsiders attempted to scale the school walls to enter, escalating tensions further. At one point, bricks and stones were thrown toward the stage and audience seating, causing panic. Reports indicate that at least 20 to 30 people were injured, including several members of the organizing committee, who required hospital treatment.

James and his team were outside the venue during the chaos. When the disorder reached its peak, they decided to cancel the concert and subsequently returned to Dhaka. James commented that the entire situation was due to the extreme failure of the organizers. He emphasized that for such a large event, proper security and crowd management preparations are essential.

Faridpur Kotwali police noted that news of the artist’s presence drew tens of thousands of people, which became difficult to control. To prevent a major untoward incident, the decision to cancel the concert was made. Following the event, discussions erupted across Faridpur, with many believing that adequate planning and security could have prevented the cancellation of such a highly anticipated concert.