A set of restrictions have been imposed on activities at shrines in Sylhet’s Bishwanath upazila following an attack on a Baul music gathering near a shrine on 22 March.
The decision was finalised at a meeting held this afternoon (25 March) at the Bishwanath Upazila Parishad hall room, said Sylhet-2 (Bishwanath-Osmaninagar) lawmaker Tahsina Rushdir Luna.
Luna, who attended the meeting, said the directives will apply to all shrines in Bishwanath and will be communicated to the relevant authorities by the local administration.
Under the new guidelines, the use of microphones during urs, the annual death anniversary commemorations of Sufi saints, has been prohibited.
However, speakers may still be used, provided organisers ensure that nearby residents are not disturbed, the MP said.
Authorities have also imposed strict bans on alcohol, cannabis, and other antisocial activities at shrine premises.
In addition, organisers have been instructed to ensure separate arrangements for men and women during such events, Luna said.
Restrictions have also been placed on musical performances.
Only religious forms of music, such as ghazal, pir-murshidi songs, and zikr, will be permitted, while other types of songs will not be allowed.
Earlier on 22 March, a Baul music gathering was disrupted after a group of local people attacked the event while allegedly chanting religious slogans in Sylhet’s Bishwanath upazila.
The incident took place in Sripur Village, near the Ibrai Shah Shrine.
Witnesses said that while the event was underway, more than a hundred people suddenly arrived and launched a coordinated attack on the venue.
The attackers reportedly chanted slogans such as “Naara-e-Takbeer, Allahu Akbar” and “Enemies of Islam, beware” before entering the programme area.
They then began vandalising the site, breaking musical instruments and sound equipment set up on the stage.
Following the sudden attack, organisers and devotees of the shrine fled the venue in fear, causing the event to be completely disrupted.
Eyewitnesses said that after carrying out the vandalism, the attackers left the venue in a procession.
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