Attacks on Bauls people are on continue in two districts–Kushtia and Chuadanga. Records say, not only attacks, but there are also assaults, looting of their valuables, and even brutal torture and killings of the Bauls also the event of the day. But, the due trial of these incidents is far away even the attackers are not always arrested. If arrested they slip out soon through the blessing of the cracks.
The sad truth here lying is that in most cases it is the Bauls are forced to compromise with the attackers. In many cases, bauls withdrew the cases to save their souls.
Although Kushtia is the stronghold of the Bauls, there have been incidents of attacks on the Bauls in this district itself.
A large number of Baul saints and artists also live in the surrounding districts including Chuadanga based on Kushtia’s Baul King Lalon Shah. There is a number of Bauls Akhra in these places. Here the Bauls are being bullied in these places too.
Many people including Baul’s and Balus devotees demand justice. They hold protest rallies, and human chains. Sometimes cases are filed. But the culprits are not arrested or even prosecuted.
Experts and social workers told that in the absence of justice, the Bauls compromise their existence. Baul society has not had enough strength to stand against it alone. As a result, these incidents continue to happen.
KUSHTIA/
On the night of November 5 last year, a sudden attack took place at a Baul Akhra in Laubaria of Kushtia’s Daulatpur upazila. A group of locals orthodox led by a mosque Imam beat up and injured Bauls and their devotees. Among the injured was 90-year-old Baul Fazal Fakir. In this incident, a case was filed against local mosque committee president Ekram Hossain and 19 other unidentified miscreants at Daulatpur police station on November 6.
Eighteen accused in the case have already surrendered before the court and got bail. Only Babul Hossain alias Bablu went to jail. Later Babul also got bail. The present condition of this case could not be known immediately.
CHUADANGA/
In the last seven years, four baul Akhras have been attacked, and set on fire, and even the incident of cutting hair to the bauls took place in the district. There is a case of Baul murdering also recorded.
In these attacks, a Baul organiser was killed and around 50 Bauls were injured. Three cases were filed in connection but the progress of the cases is in sad shape as finally the Bauls either were forced to compromise the cases or kept themselves silent.
The latest incident took place on the last night of February 7 when the miscreants attacked and set fire to the Baul Akhara in Belgachi Shewratala of Sadar Upazila of Chuadaanga district.
Abdur Razzak Fakir, chief of the Akhara, filed a case against unknown criminals in Sadar police station on February 9. Police have not arrested anyone so far.
According to the information, Zakaria Hossain, the Baul organiser of Akundabaria village of Chuadanga Sadar Upazila, was going to worship at Guchhapara of his village on the night of December 10, 2015. On the way, around 11:30 p.m., miscreants hacked him to death. In this incident, his elder brother Mohammad Kibria filed a case with Chuadanga Sadar Police Station on December 13 of same year, naming three people as accused. The family does not know the latest situation of this case.
Zakaria’s wife Salma Khatun told that a police official told her the date of the case would be informed when it runs on court. But even in six years, she did not know anything.
According to police, the proceedings of the case lost momentum as the three main accused involved in the murder were killed in a ‘gunfight’ with the police.
Advocate Rafiqul Islam of Chuadanga court informed to the daily star, two accused of the case also got died in heart attack, one is now sick and two others are absconded.
On July 16, 2016, at midnight, miscreants made an attack to a baul Akhra at Ektarpur of Jibannagar Upazila of the district. The attack went to when the bauls were sleeping in the Akhra Around 13 Bauls were hurt in the attack. In this incident, Baul Shahidul Islam filed a case in Jibannagar police station on the name of the unknown miscreants. Police arrested three activists of local Jamaat-e-Islami named Ariful Islam (22), Shahed Ali (30) and Jamaat Ali (42).
The Bauls compromised the case under pressure of local influential people. Later, the accused were acquitted after filing an appeal in court.
On July 29 of the same year, miscreants attacked the home of Baul Zulmat Shah at Gobindpur in Damurhuda Upazila of Chuadanga at midnight. Two houses were burnt by fire. About 10 people were injured.
Zulmat Shah became filed a case at Damurhuda Model Police Station on July 30. On August 1, the police arrested two people named Alauddin (25) and Nasir Uddin alias Kalu (27) from Madana in Damurhuda Upazila. But due to pressure, Baul Zulmat Shah compromised the case.
General Secretary of Chuadanga District Baul Kalyan Sanstha Muslim Uddin Shah spoke about the issues.
He said attacks and intimidation are the daily routine of the Bauls. When asked who is causing these attacks, he said that sometimes religious fundamentalists are doing this directly; sometimes they are doing this by misrepresenting common people and making them angry.
Muslim said that after the incident, they went to the shelter of local influential people, public representatives and political leaders. Due to the pressure of these groups, the things turn to injustice or the Bauls are forced to compromise.
According to the Baul leader, attacks or persecution on Bauls will be reduced if the incidents are properly investigated and the culprits are brought under trial and exemplary punishment is ensured.
Baul researcher Professor Shahinur Rahman, teacher of English Department at Kushtia Islamic University said the incident of bullying on Baul is very sad. Bauls are always out chaos, they are even not against anyone. They are followers of their ways and doctrines.
True religious people cannot commit such attacks.
According to him, these are the work of vested groups. He said those who always want to be disordered in society do it.
According to Mohammad Ali Sain, Khadem of Lalon Akhra in Kushtia, these attacks on the Bauls are being carried out by the people belonging to the vested groups. They are priests of evil forces. Their aim is to remove all non-communal beliefs, and humanism from society.
Kushtia Superintendent of Police Khairul Alam told that as long as he is in Kushtia, his commitment to protect the Baulds will continue. In his words, ordinary people can do more than the police in removing prejudice and evil forces from society. He called upon the common people to stand up against these radical evil forces.
