Hate campaign against Joler Gaan artistes protested

French President Emanuel Macron with Joler gaan artistes recently. UNB

Dhaka, Sept 14 - A barrage slurs surfaced on social media involving an interactive session involving eminent musician, actor and instrumentalist ‘Joler Gaan’ frontman Rahul Anand and his wife, painter Urmila Shukla ostensibly after the French President Emmanuel Macron paid a visit at the house of the couple in Dhanmondi recently.

Calling Rahul and Macron both enemies of Islam, these posts also slammed the government for not bringing charges of “blasphemy” against Rahul. 

In reference to an earlier drama where Rahul performed a role that they called “Anti-Islam”, the post further shed light on the decade back drama, staged in 2008, triggering protest by radical elements after Rahul played a role in the play. 

Those posts decried the meeting as a clear manifestation of “expansion of network of apostates” while Macron gifted Rahul a pen with his name embedded in it. 

"President Macron asked me to open the gift and muttered in my ears that he himself uses this pen,” according to Rahul. 

“Almost fifteen years after the drama staged by Rahul, Macron celebrated moments lasted for over 1 hour 40 minute- can you imagine how far the network of apostates (kufri) is extended”, question was mentioned on the post.  

“One global enemy of Islam who is leading the charge in disgracing our Prophet came and held meeting with another apostate with a singular objective of hailing anti-islamic work”, reads the post.  

Moreover, these statuses come in stark contrast to a surge in acclamation and applause on social media and mainstream outlets with reports likes “music connected us both’, “Macron relishes music”, let alone a move hailed by netizens, musicians and cultural personalities. 

According to media reports, “as unconventional as it sounds, Emmanuel Macron, deliberately asked for an invitation here and was welcomed as an old friend by the family”. 

“AL hammered last nail in the coffin in stopping the spread of Islam” read a part of a post shared by another user who also shared that post on Macron graced the studio of Rahul. 

A number of students from minority community called this attack as hate campaign orchestrated against Rahul for his religion. 

Journalist Ajoy Das Gupta, opined that such rabidly radical and communal elements always seek to peddle such hatred whenever they find someone from minority promoting our deep rooted syncretic culture. 

Hailing the move by Macron to visit Anand’s place he said such an extraordinary move is really aimed at winning hearts and minds, let alone a triumph for inclusivity and communal harmony, a key stepping stone for a brighter future.    

Prof Mizanur Rahman Khan, an eminent human rights activist said such hate speech must be stopped immediately and the authorities must be agile against all hate mongers! In a contrary situation Bangladesh loses its ‘soul’! 

Calling these hate campaign, Nirmol Rozario, president of Bangladesh Christian Association, likened this campaign as a classic case of “backward minded” and clearly expose an ardent communal mindset of these campaigners unlashed against minorities, let alone an affront to the core tenants of liberation war values. - UNB