Ancient ‘Sangeet Bhaban’ in Chattogram vandalised

Attackers have vandalised the ancient "Sangeet Bhaban" in Chattogram, smashing harmonium, tabla and other musical instruments and furniture in the building.

The attack took place in Panchlais Prabartak area of the port city around 10:30 am on Friday.

A video of the attack has already gone viral on Facebook which shows some 15 to 20 women and youths were vandalising the music building, uprooting the plants and entering the building to throw things out.

"The building was battered and various musical instruments were getting damaged in the rainy season. When I tried to renovate the building recently, people from the Prabartak Sangha came and blocked it," said Kaberi Sengupta, principal of the music building.

"Police then ordered both sides to remain calm but on Friday morning some men and women came and attacked the music building," she added.

When asked, Tinkari Chakraborty, secretary of Prabartak Sangha, said: "We were supposed to sign an agreement with the family of Priyoda Ranjan Sengupta, the founder of Sangeet Bhaban" 

"But they are not making that deal now. They have occupied the building without a contract which led to the incident as they tried to renovate it without any kind of contract."

This Business Standard called Panchlaish Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abul Kashem Bhuiyan on his phone several times for his comment on this but he did not pick up the calls.

However, duty officer of the police station Sub-Inspector Sadeka Afroz said police were sent to the spot after receiving the news of the attack.

Sangeet Bhaban was established on the hill of Prabartak Sangha in 1968 by Priyoda Ranjan Sengupta and Banabrithi Sengupta.