Baul akhra attacked in Faridpur

Unidentified miscreants reportedly set fire to a baul akhra (den) in Faridpur Sadar upazila early today.

The incident took place around 2:00am when the family members of Subash Biswas, mentor of the akhra, were asleep in the house at Paranpur village under Machar union, reports a correspondent.

Shubash who is the president of Bangladesh Arshe Nagar Baul Committee said bauls from different areas visit his house at times and stay there.

But, some miscreants set fire to the house where he also used to meditate and teach music to his followers. Musical instruments were also damaged in the fire, he said.

Shubash's aunty Sondha Rani Biswas said her son Ashit Biswas woke up around 2:00am and found the akhra was burning.

"It was completely burnt before the locals came hearing his (Ashit) screaming," she said.

Md Nazim Uddin, officer-in-charge (OC), of Faridpur Kotwali Police Station however said none informed him about the incident.

"On information from media, I visited the spot this noon," he said.

A First Information Report (FIR) was filed in this connection against Hasan Sheikh and Akkal Ali as suspects.

Pagla Babul, General Secretary of Faridpur Lalon Parishad demanded exemplary punishment for the attackers.

Meanwhile, local baul community formed a human chain protesting the incident in front of Faridpur Press Club around 12:00pm.

They also handed-over a memorandum to the deputy commissioner and superintended of police.