Siraj Ali Khan, the great-grandson of the legendary Ustad Alauddin Khan, has announced that he will not return to Bangladesh until artists, musicians, and cultural institutions are deemed safe. For the first time in his career, he admitted, he felt fear as an artist.
Khan arrived in Dhaka on 16 December, scheduled to perform at the prestigious Chayanat venue the following day, 19 December. However, the night before his performance, Chayanat was attacked. In a Facebook post on Sunday, he expressed his anguish:
“The country is finished, Bangladesh is finished—to me, as an artist,” he wrote.
He recalled, “On 19 December, I was due to perform at Chayanat in Dhaka. In the early hours of the same day, a mob attacked and vandalised one of Bangladesh’s most respected cultural institutions.”
Siraj Ali Khan is the son of Ali Akbar Khan, the internationally acclaimed musician and son of Ustad Alauddin Khan, and grandson of Dhanesh Khan. A prominent exponent of the Maihar gharana, he resides in India.
Earlier, on 8 October, he had performed at a grand classical music event at Dhaka’s Lalbagh Fort commemorating Ustad Alauddin Khan’s 163rd birthday, organised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, receiving widespread acclaim.
Speaking of his decision not to return, Khan said:
“With a heavy heart, I must be clear: I will not come back to Bangladesh until artists, musicians, and cultural institutions are safe and respected. This decision is not born of anger but of responsibility—for my family’s legacy, for my art, and for my safety.”
He added, “I still believe in the power of music to heal and unite. I only hope that one day respect for art and culture is restored so that the bridge between our nations can be rebuilt.”
Reflecting on his connection to Bangladesh, he said:
“I have always returned to reconnect with my roots, to share my family’s musical heritage and the living legacy of the Maihar gharana. I came here with only music, humility, and respect.”
For the first time, he confessed, “I have feared for my life. Never did I imagine that simply presenting myself as an Indian artist in Bangladesh could place me in danger. I am grateful to have returned to India safely.”
Khan described the 19 December incident as more than the destruction of musical instruments or an institution. “It was an attack on culture, artists, and shared heritage. Music has always been a bridge across our countries and histories. When that bridge is broken by fear and violence, something deeper is lost.”
He emphasised that his criticism targets the mindset of the attackers and not the government or the educated, cultured citizens of Bangladesh who have always shown him respect and affection. Tagging the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, he concluded that his post is a call for dialogue, understanding, and respect for culture, not a denunciation of the nation.
“The warmth and love I have received in Dhaka, particularly during a historic cultural event, will never be forgotten,” he wrote.