Attack, Vandalism and Fire at Chhayanaut Building: What ‘Cultural Narrative’ Was Chhayanaut Blocking?

Staff Correspondent

Amidst the anger and protests over the death of Inqilab Mancha convener Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, Chhayanot Bhaban, a traditional institution for practicing Bengali culture, was attacked, vandalized and set on fire in the capital’s Dhanmondi. Witnesses said that July warriors who are against Bengali art, literature and culture marched and attacked, vandalized and looted while chanting “Allahu Akbar”. Witnesses alleged that the law enforcement agencies of the Yunus government were standing by and watching the attack, vandalizing and looting in public.

A group of militant protesters entered the seven-story Chhayanaut building in Dhanmondi’s Shankar area after midnight on Thursday. Eyewitness and television footage showed the attackers entering the building floor by floor, indiscriminately vandalizing each room.

All the furniture and musical instruments on the ground floor were demolished. Musical instruments, artworks and works of art on different floors were destroyed. Everything in the auditorium, including the monitoring system, lights, fans, etc., were smashed. Important documents in the rooms were shredded.

Channel 24’s live video shows that almost every room up to the third floor has been vandalized. The classrooms and offices of the Chhayanaut Music Academy and the school run there were also attacked. The rooms of the president and general secretary were not spared either – the glass of the cupboard was broken, chairs and tables were overturned, and windows and fans were broken.

After the Taliban, led by Mullah Omar, took over Afghanistan, all of Afghanistan’s historical structures and cultural institutions were destroyed one by one.

Many of the attackers were seen with their faces covered and helmets on. They set fire to the front of the building as they left.

In videos circulating on social media, protesters can be heard saying during the attack that there is no place for practicing Indian culture in Bangladesh.
Mithun Singh, officer-in-charge of Dhanmondi Police Station, said that the attack on Chhayanaut Bhaban took place shortly after the vandalism and arson incident at Dhanmondi 32. Police believe that the same protest group was involved in both attacks. Upon receiving information, the police and the army went to the scene to bring the situation under control.

Following the attack, all classes at the Chhayanaut Music Academy, including all activities of the organization, operating in the Chhayanaut building, have been suspended until further notice. The decision was announced on Chhayanaut’s Facebook page at around 3:30 am.

Founded in 1961 to inspire Bengalis with their culture and non-communal spirit, Chhayanaut has been the target of deadly attacks before. In 2001, on Bengali New Year’s Day, 10 people were killed in a bomb attack at Chhayanaut’s New Year’s Eve party in Ramna Batamul.

Yet, the organization has not budged in the face of repeated attacks. Led by cultural pioneers Wahidul Haque and Sanjida Khatun, Chhayanaut has long been at the forefront of the Bengali cultural movement.

Even after this attack, members, students, and well-wishers of Chayanaut reacted on social media, saying that Chayanaut’s cultural struggle will not stop even after this attack.