Chhayanaut says it will not waver in its course

Chhayanaut will remain steadfast in its journey, the Bengali cultural organisation has said following the arson attack and widespread vandalism on its premises on Friday.

Around 6:30pm on Saturday, the statement signed by the organisation’s President Sarwar Ali and General Secretary Laisa Ahmad Lisa was posted on its Facebook page, hours after assailants vandalised and set fire to its seven-storey building in Dhanmondi.

The statement described the details of the damage, before urging the interim government to investigate and take steps against the miscreants.

Chhayanaut said it mourns the killing of Inqilab Moncho Convenor Osman bin Hadi, whose death allegedly sparked the attacks on its premises.

The statement asked why assailants attacked Chhayanaut when news broke of his death, saying: “Perhaps groups opposed to cultural practices took advantage of the situation.”

Around 2:30pm on Saturday, Cultural Affairs Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki visited the Chhayanaut building.

In his statement, the advisor said after assessing the extent of the damage at the premises, necessary steps will be taken by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs in coordination with the Chhayanaut authorities.

Chhayanaut’s statement said, “Chhayanaut is a voluntary and self-reliant cultural institution. Chhayanaut does not accept donations from any government, foreign organisation or corporate entity. Therefore, Chhayanaut will overcome this crisis by drawing strength from its own resources. It is determined to swiftly remedy this temporary disruption to music and children’s education.”

“Chhayanaut’s field of work is not politics. Through the practice of music and culture, Chhayanaut upholds the Bengali national identity.”

Chhayanaut is the largest informal music education institution in the subcontinent. Alongside its practice of Bengali music, Chhayanaut’s role in the struggle for independence is also recognised worldwide.