Chapainawabganj cleric opposes music, threatens not to make death announcement

A local committee in a village of Chapainawabganj Sadar upazila has imposed a ban on music at social events.

The group has threatened locals not to officiate weddings or make death announcement through mosque in case of playing songs or musical instruments on social events.

Following the announcement, police intervened in the area.

According to local sources, the warnings have been in effect for about two months in Terrashia Poragram, a village about 7 km from Chapainawabganj town, where around 40 families live. A group called the “Society Protection Committee,” formed under the leadership of the local mosque imam, issued notices banning music across the village.

Banners reading “Music Prohibited” were also hung at several intersections, and hawkers from outside the village were barred from using loudspeakers to sell their goods. Police recently removed the banners during a visit to the area.

Resident Rafiqul Islam said villagers, who are practicing Muslims, sometimes play music during weddings or other events. “So the community decided that if music is played at a house, the imam will not go there to conduct the marriage ceremony,” he said.

Another resident, Shafiqul Islam, said the restrictions also included a ban on loudspeaker announcements by hawkers and mosque announcements of deaths from households that violate the rule.

Abdul Malek Bin Khalirur Rahman, Imam of the Poragram mosque, said the initiative was taken to guide society in the right direction as part of efforts for social reform.

Additional Superintendent of Police ANM Wasim Firoz said police visited the site after receiving reports and are looking into the matter.

Chapainawabganj Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Maruf Afzal Rajan said there is no legal restriction on playing music, adding that the incident is being investigated and necessary action will be taken if required.