Bauls again attacked in Bangladesh

Dhaka, July 30 (IANS) In the second such attack this month, three Baul singers were attacked in Chaudanga district of eastern Bangladesh when unidentified miscreants stormed their akhra (den), tied them up and chopped off their hair.

The incident took place Friday night in Gobindapur village, The Daily Star reported.

Julmat Shah, 55, his wife Momena Begum, 46, and Guru bhai (senior Baul) Rinupada Halder, 63, were attacked by a group of over 20 youths who entered their Akhra while they were offering prayers.

Julmat, mentor of the Akhra, told the media that the youths set their den and house ablaze before leaving.

The incident comes amid concern over the rising threat of militancy and attacks on secular bloggers, teachers and foreigners in the country.

In an earlier attack, assailants on July 17 left four Bauls, including two women, badly injured in an attack on a Akhra in Ektarpur village of Chuadanga district.