On Friday, the much-anticipated concert of the renowned urban folk musician James in Faridpur was abruptly cancelled. The performance, scheduled as part of Faridpur Zilla School’s 185th anniversary and alumni reunion celebrations, was disrupted due to a violent incident involving external visitors who hurled bricks, forcing organisers to call off the event. James has publicly attributed the cancellation to the organisers’ mismanagement and failure to maintain order.
Rubaiyat Thakur Robin, spokesperson for James and the band, told Prothom Alo, “We arrived in Faridpur at 7:30 pm to participate in the event. Soon after the programme began, we were informed about unrest outside while we were at the guest house. By 10:30 pm, the situation escalated, and we were notified that the concert had to be cancelled. We then returned to Dhaka.”
James also commented, “This was entirely due to the organisers’ mismanagement and failure to ensure a safe environment.”
According to sources from the organising committee, the reunion and cultural programme was intended exclusively for registered current and former students. However, thousands of unregistered visitors gathered after learning that James would perform. Denied entry to the school premises, they congregated on the adjacent Mujib Road. The organisers set up two projectors outside to accommodate the crowd, but dissatisfaction persisted. Around 9:30 pm, some attendees attempted to scale the walls to enter the premises, prompting clashes that escalated into the throwing of bricks.
Security personnel attempting to maintain order were met with increasing hostility. Approximately 25 to 30 individuals within the school grounds were injured by flying debris. Additionally, 4 to 5 intruders successfully entered the premises but were quickly confronted by students.
Considering the escalating danger, shortly before 10 pm, Benazir Ahmed Tabriz, a former Faridpur Zilla School student and member of the school’s security subcommittee, announced the suspension of the cultural programme. He stated that the Reunion Committee convener, Mostafizur Rahman Shamim, along with 20 to 25 others, sustained injuries, several of whom required hospitalisation.
Faridpur Kotwali Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge, Mohammad Shahidul Islam, confirmed that the crowd had swelled to an estimated 20,000–25,000 people upon news of James’ arrival. “It was impossible to accommodate all in the school grounds. Minor unrest broke out as outsiders were denied entry, and ultimately, the entire event had to be cancelled to maintain safety,” he added.
Summary of Incident
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | Faridpur Zilla School 185th Anniversary & Alumni Reunion |
| Date | Friday, 27 December 2025 |
| Performer | James (Urban Folk Musician) |
| Expected Audience | 20,000–25,000 |
| Cause of Cancellation | Brick-throwing and crowd unrest by external visitors |
| Injured | 25–30 people inside school grounds; 20–25 organisers; several hospitalised |
| Security Response | Event cancelled by security subcommittee before 10 pm |
The incident has sparked debate over crowd management and security measures for high-profile cultural events, highlighting the challenges of accommodating large audiences in limited spaces.