Baul singer Shamsel Haque Chisti, better known as Chisti Baul, was assaulted over a song he performed at the “Development Fair” in his home district on Saturday night.

Some in the audience got agitated as they alleged the lyrics were “derogatory to Islam”. As words spread, several hundred students from Jamiya Yunusia Madrasa rushed to the venue and went on the rampage at the fair.

They vandalised the ticket counter and furniture and also beat up the elderly singer, witnesses said. 

At one stage, police rescued Chisti and left the scene for Brahmanbaria Sadar Police Station on a microbus but the vehicle came under attack on TA Road, the main thoroughfare of the town.

However, the cops managed to reach the police station with the baul. 

The superintendent of police held an emergency meeting with the authorities of Jamiya Yunusia Madrasa and the situation calmed down as Chisti offered an apology.

Talking to newsmen at the police station, he said, “I'm sick because of injuries in a road crash. I am also aged. So I might have made a mistake. If I have said anything derogatory to Islam, I'm sorry for it”.

Anwar Hossain Khan, SP of Brahmanbaria, told The Daily Star that police sat with teachers of the madrasa in presence of deputy commissioner and other high officials of the administration.

“Things got back to normal as Chisti Baul said sorry to all.”