Protest Against Obscene Dance, Gambling
Locals vandalise <i>Jatra</i> stage in Lalmonirhat
Local people vandalised a stage for jatra (open air drama) in protest against holding of obscene dance and gambling under the cover of the traditional entertainment for rural people at Chapartol village in Kaliganj upazila of Lalmonirhat district yesterday dawn.
Four days ago, a group of ruling party men arranged the jatra after getting permission from the deputy commissioner.
But obscene dance of women jatra artistes was being displayed and gambling was arranged outside the stage, locals said.
A large number of people, especially young men including school and college students from different villages thronged the jatra venue to view obscene dance while some of them got engaged in gambling.
Several locals said they earlier protested the matter but it fell to deaf ears as ruling party men conducted it through managing police and upazila administration allegedly with handsome amount of money.
“Jatra is our local culture. But obscene dance and gambling are being held in the name of jatra. If allowed to continue, it will leave negative effect on people's character,” said Abdul Hamid, 45, a farmer at Chapartol village.
Local sources said some ruling party men formed a 'jatra committee', mostly comprising identified gamblers. To earn hefty sums from gambling, they arrange so-called jatra in the village two to three times a year by managing the local administration.
Asked about the matter, Soleman Miah, the 'chief' of the jatra committee, also a local leader of Sramik League, said, “We got permission for staging jatra at Chapartol village for seven days. We arranged it only for giving entertainment to the villagers. We are not holding obscene dance and gambling here.”
Asked about the allegation of obscene dance in the name of jatra, the proprietor of jatra team Quamruzzaman said, “We were hired for staging jatra at Chapartol village but now my team is not allowed to stage it here. So obscene dance dominate the programme.”
When contacted, Kaliganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ershad Ahsan Habib said, “Obscene dance and gambling are arranged at Chapartol village in the name of jatra. I have not taken any action as the DC gave permission for the jatra.”
Kaliganj police station Officer in Charge Projit Kumar Roy refuted the allegation that local police took money from jatra organisers.
Superintendent of Police Habibur Rahman said, “The DC gave permission for staging jatra in the village and so, the responsibility for anything unwanted in the name of jatra goes to him, not police.”
When contacted, DC Mokhlesar Rahman said, “I gave permission for staging jatra as some ruling party leaders and freedom fighters informed me that the function would be held to nurture local culture and give entertainment to the villagers. I will take legal action against the jatra committee if the allegation of holding obscene dance and gambling is found true.”
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