Vandalism will not silence us: Chhayanaut

Published : Sunday, 21 December, 2025 at 7:08 PM Count : 20

Chhayanaut has issued a detailed account of the situation following an overnight attack on its cultural complex, describing the incident as a "targeted assault on cultural institutions" amid a period of wider unrest.

In the early hours of Thursday (Friday) night, December 18 (December 19), 2025, a group of unidentified individuals entered the six-storey Chhayanaut Cultural Building and caused extensive damage. Nearly every room was vandalised, property was looted, and parts of the building were set on fire. Police and army personnel arrived shortly after the incident, brought the situation under control, and extinguished the flames. Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) were also present at the scene.

On Friday, after Jummah prayers, the Adviser for Cultural Affairs, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, visited the damaged premises. Condemning the attack, he assured Chhayanaut organisers that the government would take responsibility for ensuring the building's security and expressed willingness to provide compensation for infrastructural damage.

A case was filed the following day, Saturday, at Dhanmondi Police Station, outlining the scale of destruction and loss. Chhayanaut has formally called on the authorities to conduct a proper investigation and to ensure swift accountability for those responsible.

The attack occurred amid unrest following the death of Osman Hadi. While some speculation has linked the violence to that development, Chhayanaut has stated that it does not believe the assault on the cultural centre was connected to Hadi or his supporters. Instead, the organisation maintains that anti-Bengali cultural groups took advantage of the volatile situation to carry out the attack. Hadi's funeral rites have since been completed with due respect. Security at the Chhayanaut premises is currently being maintained by police, RAB, and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) at various times of the day.

Chhayanaut has reiterated that it has remained non-political and unaffiliated with any political party since its founding. For more than six decades, the institution has focused on the practice and dissemination of music and culture as a means of strengthening Bengali identity and promoting social harmony. In addition to its cultural work, Chhayanaut has been running a secondary-level school for over two decades, integrating cultural education into mainstream learning.

On the same night as the Chhayanaut attack, miscreants also set fire to the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. Chhayanaut condemned these incidents, describing them as attempts to suppress independent media. The organisation also strongly denounced the arson attack that destroyed the office of Udichi Shilpi Goshthi on the night of Saturday (December 19).

Despite the damage, Chhayanaut has said it is keen to resume normal activities as soon as possible. Repairing the damaged infrastructure and replacing essential equipment, however, remains a significant challenge. Even so, the organisation has expressed cautious optimism about proceeding with its scheduled programmes.

Chhayanaut acknowledged the outpouring of concern from alumni, students, and supporters at home and abroad. While many have offered financial assistance, the organisation reiterated that it operates as a self-reliant voluntary institution and does not typically accept funding for regular activities, except where critical infrastructure is concerned. It believes the losses can be overcome through collective effort involving organisers, alumni, teachers, and students.

At a time of broader social and cultural uncertainty, Chhayanaut has stressed the need for solidarity and collective responsibility. The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to continuing the practice and promotion of Bengali music and culture, despite ongoing challenges.

The official statement released today was jointly signed by Sarwar Ali, president of the organisation, and its general secretary, Laisa Ahmed Lisa.

FP/MI