For performing Islamic songs at the Durga Puja mandap of JM Sen Hall in Chittagong, seven people have been charged by the Kotwali police station.

Six performers including Sajal Dutta, the former Joint General Secretary of the Puja Celebration Committee, are among the defendants.

The complaint was filed on Friday afternoon by Sukanta Mahajan, the treasurer of the Chittagong Metropolitan Puja Celebration Committee, according to Muhammad Fazlul Kader Chowdhury, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Kotwali police station.

Among the accused are members of Chittagong Cultural Academy: Shahidul Karim, Nurul Islam, Abdullah Iqbal, Rony, Golam Mostafa, and Mamun.

Police have already arrested Shahidul Karim and Nurul Islam, charging them with hurting religious sentiments and causing unrest through their performance.

According to Kazi Md Tarek Aziz, ADC (PR) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP): “A case has been filed regarding the performance of songs at the Sharadiya Durga Puja event at JM Sen Hall, which caused religious offense and unrest. The case names the Puja Celebration Committee’s Joint General Secretary Sajal Dutta and six performers.”

The controversy erupted after the performers, at Sajal Dutta’s request, sang Islamic songs at the Durga Puja event on Thursday night.

The incident sparked widespread criticism on social media, leading to Sajal Dutta’s removal from his position in the Puja Celebration Committee.

Chittagong Puja Udjapon Parishad president relieved
Central committee of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Parishad on Friday relieved its Chittagong chapter President Ashish Bhattacharya and General Secretary Hillol Dey for failing to perform their responsibilities adequately.

Earlier, the Chittagong unit issued a lifetime termination of Joint Secretary Sajal Dutta for allowing a group that rendered songs, including one having Islamic theme, at JM Sen Hall Puja mandap on Thursday evening, as stated in a release signed by Sachin Chandra Baroi, office secretary of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapon ParishaBesides, central Puja Udjapon Parishad strongly condemned the incident.

The President of Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Parishad Shri Basudev Dhar and General Secretary Shri Santosh Sharma said in a statement that people of the Hindu community have been deeply hurt by this unexpected incident. The Parishad demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident and exemplary punishment.Simultaneously, the Puja Udjapon Parishad emphasized that the government has implemented necessary measures to ensure the successful celebration of Durga Puja. Such incidents can understandably hinder these positive efforts, it said.The statement called for collaboration among the government, military, law enforcement, political parties, and student organizations to unite against miscreants, stressing that there is no alternative to this collective action.