‘Release Baul singer Shariat Sarkar’

Bauls in Tangail formed a human chain in front of the town’s press club yesterday, demanding unconditional release of Baul singer Shariat Sarkar and withdrawal of the “false” case against him.

Around 100 bauls also staged a rally there under the banner of “Fakir Maula Darbar Sharifer Bhoktobrindo”.

The speakers said Shariat did not say anything against or insulting the Quran and prophets. But, police arrested him in a “false” case filed by a group and took him on remand.

The country’s baul community will wage a tougher movement, if he is not released and the case not withdrawn immediately, they threatened.

Among others, bauls Syed Abul Bashar Chishtee, Mokbul Hossain, Fakir Fazlu Sarkar and Shahabuddin spoke at the programme.

On Thursday afternoon, district unit of Qaomi Olama Parishad during a press conference at the press club demanded capital punishment for Shariat over his “misinterpretation” of the Quran, “derogatory remarks” against prophets and “hurling expletive” at ulema.

On December 24 last year, Baul Shariat Sarkar talked about Islam at a “pala gan-er asar” (musical programme) in Dhamrai of Dhaka.

On January 9, Maulana Faridul Islam, an imam of a Tangail mosque, filed the case against Shariat with Mirzapur Police Station, alleging that his speech hurt his “religious sentiment”. At that time, locals rallied in the area, demanding immediate arrest of Shariat.

Mirzapur police arrested him from Bhaluka area in Mymensingh the next day, produced him before a Tangail court, seeking a 10-day remand for interrogating him. The court granted remand for three days.

On expiry of the remand, police produced Shariat before the same court on January 13 and the court sent him to jail.