Bangladesh Concert by Rock Star James Cancelled After Violent Mob Attack

A highly anticipated concert by celebrated Bangladeshi rock musician James was abruptly cancelled late Friday night after a violent mob attack at Faridpur Zilla School in Faridpur district, authorities and local reports said. The performance, meant to be the closing event of the school’s 185th anniversary celebrations, was scheduled to begin around 9:30 pm but descended into chaos just before it was due to start when a group of outsiders attempted to force their way into the venue and began hurling bricks and stones at the stage and audience. 

According to organizers, the attackers were denied entry after the event was restricted to registered students and alumni, but that refusal triggered a violent confrontation that left at least 15 to 25 people injured, most of them students attending the event. Witnesses and local media reports described scenes of panic as bricks and stones were thrown, prompting security personnel and school students to push back against the assailants before the situation escalated further. 

As the unrest intensified, the Faridpur district administration instructed organizers to cancel the concert on security grounds to prevent further injuries. James, popularly known as “Nagar Baul” and regarded as one of Bangladesh’s most influential rock artists, managed to leave the venue safely without physical harm, according to local news outlets. 

The violence at what was intended to be a cultural celebration has sparked concern among observers about growing intolerance toward music and cultural events in some parts of the country. Organizers and commentators have questioned the motives behind the attack, saying they remain unclear, and have called for improved security measures at public gatherings to protect cultural expression and the safety of attendees.

The incident adds to a backdrop of recent unrest and rising tensions in Bangladesh, where issues of cultural freedom and public safety have increasingly come under scrutiny in the lead-up to national elections and amid broader social debates on cultural and political norms.