Chaos at James’s Concert in Faridpur: Organiser Mismanagement Blamed by ‘Nagar Baul’

A concert by legendary rock musician James, popularly known as Nagar Baul, descended into chaos and was ultimately cancelled late Friday night, leaving multiple people injured during the 185th anniversary and reunion celebrations of Faridpur Zila School.

The concert was scheduled to be the closing event of the two-day programme and was to begin around 9:30 pm on the school grounds. However, just before the performance was due to start, trouble broke out when a large number of unregistered individuals (outsiders) gathered outside the venue after learning of the event. The organisers had restricted entry to registered former and current students.

When the outsiders were denied access, they allegedly tried to force their way into the concert area, threw bricks and stones toward the stage and the school grounds, and attempted to seize control of the event. Students of Faridpur Zila School resisted the aggression, and in the ensuing unrest, several attendees were injured. Reports indicate that at least 15 to 25 people, including students, suffered injuries from flying debris and brickbats. The exact number of casualties is still being confirmed.

In the face of the worsening situation, the organising committee convenor, Dr Mustafizur Rahman Shamim, announced from the stage around 10 pm that the concert had been cancelled. He cited instructions from the Faridpur District Commissioner as the reason for calling off the event, pointing to the volatile security conditions.

James’s representatives later criticised the way the situation was handled. They placed blame on the event organisers for poor management and lack of proper security arrangements, saying that the disruption was a result of mismanagement rather than something the artist or his team could control. James himself echoed this sentiment, underscoring that the organisers’ failure to control the crowd turned what was meant to be a festive night into a chaotic one.

The anniversary programme had begun on Thursday morning with customary events such as flag hoisting, the national anthem, oath-taking, and a colourful procession. The cancellation of the headline concert has left celebrations on a sombre note, with questions raised about event security and proper planning for large public gatherings.