In a striking show of solidarity, hundreds of activists, artists, and citizens gathered outside the National Parliament on Friday to demand the immediate release of the acclaimed Baul singer Abul Sarkar. Organised by the civic group ‘Sampriti Jatra,’ the event featured a human chain and a peaceful protest march through the surrounding streets.
The demonstration drew attention to the broader struggles of Baul and Sufi artists in Bangladesh. Placards bore messages such as “Free Abul Sarkar,” “Defend Music and Devotion,” and “One Day the World Will Belong to the Bauls,” reflecting public concern over what organisers described as targeted harassment of cultural figures.
Rafiqul Islam, Chairman of the Bangladesh Sufi Awakening Council, said the arrest of Sarkar was part of a deliberate attempt to suppress voices of dissent, emphasising that Bauls have historically led movements against social injustice. Jamshed Anwar of the Udichi Artists’ Association added that assaulting or detaining artists represented a clear violation of human rights.
Critics also condemned the government for what they described as contradictory behaviour: celebrating Lalon’s philosophy while simultaneously clamping down on living practitioners. Mēghmallār Bosu, President of a faction of Dhaka University’s Student Union, urged unity in resisting authoritarian measures. Meanwhile, Maulana Nure Alam Saeed, president of Ahle Sunnat Jamaat, delivered a three-day ultimatum, warning of mass street mobilisation if Sarkar was not freed. The Baul Association’s General Secretary Rafik Sarkar estimated that around two million Bauls and Fakirs were prepared to join demonstrations.
The protest concluded peacefully with a march from the south plaza of Parliament to Khejurbagan intersection and back. Organisers and participants stressed the need for the protection of artists, preservation of cultural heritage, and an end to systemic discrimination. The demonstration has drawn national attention to the growing tensions between the government and Bangladesh’s traditional music communities.