Amid the violent protests in Bangladesh, which resulted in Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and departure from the country, a troubling incident has emerged involving singer Rahul Ananda. The cultural activist, residing in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi 32, was attacked at his home. Ananda, along with his wife and teenage son, managed to escape the attack.
According to the Bangladeshi English-language daily, Daily Star, attackers forcibly entered Ananda’s home by breaking the main gate and looted the premises. The house, a 140-year-old historic site that had been visited by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2023, was ransacked. The intruders stole everything they could find, including 3,000 handmade musical instruments created by Ananda over the years. The family is currently in hiding at an undisclosed location, as reported by Saiful Jurnal, a founding member of Ananda’s band Joler Gaan.
Who is Rahul Ananda?
Rahul Ananda leads the folk band Joler Gaan. Born in Moulvi Bazar in 1976, he earned a Master’s degree in Fine Arts with a specialization in Graphic Design from the University of Dhaka. In addition to his music career, he is a well-known actor with the Bangladeshi theater group Prachyanat. Ananda has also participated in eight residency programs across various countries including the UK, Japan, India, Egypt, and Brazil, showcasing his skills as a visual artist, musician, and actor.
Following the attack, Joler Gaan shared a song titled “Love, Peace, and Solidarity” on their official Facebook page. The post explained that the song was recorded in the now-destroyed recording studio. “This song was the last recorded song in this room. What you see in the video, none of that exists today. Amid the unrest, music united us. This song is our parting gift to everyone,” the caption, originally in Bengali, read.
Recent protests in Bangladesh have intensified over the past few weeks, sparked by student demonstrations demanding job quota reforms and Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. Many Hindu celebrities’ homes and businesses have been set on fire following Hasina’s escape.
