The Hindu youth arrested by Bangladesh Police for posting ‘Lalon Fakir’s song’ released by court.

Sharing two lines of Song of Lalon Fakir  on Facebook: The Hindu youth was arrested by Bangladesh Police for ‘blasphemous act’ released by court sensing a huge reaction.   

Swasti Das | HENB | Dhaka | May 1, 2024:: On April 28th, Bangladesh Police arrested Sanjay Rakshit (40), a resident of Mahishar Union of Vedarganj Upazila of Shariatpur, for sharing Lalan’s song on his Facebook story. Sanjay is a goldsmith by profession.

It is seen in the screenshot of the story, he wrote there in Bengali, ‘Sunnat e Khatna dile jodi hoye Musalman, tahole Nari jaatir ki hoy Bidhan’ (If circumcision is given to a Muslim, then what happens to women?). These two lines are from Lalan’s song ‘Sab Loke Koy Lalan Ki Jaat Sansare‘ (People ask what is the religion of Lalon). Lalon Shah or  Lalon Fakir, Shahji andwas a prominent Bengali spiritual leader, philosopher, mystic poet and social reformer born in Jhenaidah, Bengal Subah in 18th Century who is also considered as a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity in contemporary period. The Sab Loke Koy Lalan Ki Jaat Sansare is a popular number sung by many vocal artists including famous Muslim singer Farida Parveen.

When Sanjay was brought to court on the same day (Monday -April 29) around 1:30 p.m., Senior Judicial Magistrate Shakib Hossain of Shariatpur’s Vedarganj Amli Court granted him bail on a personal bond of Rupees (Bangladesh Taka) 50/- with a written declaration that he will not post anything in social media that may create any public resentment.  Some fanatic Muslim people raised their voice earlier that Sanjay’s post was made to hurt the Muslim sentiment in a blasphemous intention.  But, the secular conscience of Bangladesh hugely condemned the arrest of Sanjay Rakshit and the prevailing Hindu persecution in Islamic Bangladesh.

When contacted, the court police inspector Alamgir said, “For posting a Facebook story, Sanjay Rakshit was arrested by Vedarganj Thana Police on Sunday under section 54 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code. Later on Monday he signed a pledge of Rs 50 that in future he would not do anything that would cause social disorder”.

Vedarganj police station OC Mintu Mandal said, ” Around 10 pm on Sunday, a young man named Sanjay Rakshit was arrested for writing two lines in the Facebook story. Some local people claimed that the writing hurt the sentiments of Muslims. They made a verbal complaint of blasphemy on the matter. So to avoid social chaos, Sanjay was arrested and sent to Shariatpur District Jail”.

The songs and ideals of Lalon Fakir are popular enough for a majority  of Hindu-Muslims citizens of Bangladesh. But, The Sharia people do not tolerate Laon Fakir as he blatantly condemned the Islamic fundamentalism. The rise of Sharia people in Bangladesh even demand to proscribe its National song , ‘Amar Sonar Bangla Ami Tomay Bhalobasi’ written by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore.  The Sharia people say the song themed upon ‘Motherland Sonar Bangla’  is contradictory to the Islamic doctrine that portraying  a country as mother is prohibited in Islam.

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__Inputs from Agencies & Dhaka Post.

__Courtesy: The Video sources used in this report.