Baul artist Abul Sarkar from Manikganj has been sent to jail on charges of making derogatory remarks about Islam and Allah during a pala gaan performance.

On Thursday evening (20 November), Manikganj Senior Judicial Magistrate Court Judge Nazrul Islam recorded Sarkar’s confessional statement under Section 164. Following this, the judge ordered that he be sent to jail.

He was arrested the previous night (Wednesday) by Manikganj District Detective Police (DB) from a musical programme venue in the Rajoir area of Madaripur district.

According to police sources, on 4 November, during a pala gaan session at the Jabara Khala Paglir Mela in Ghior upazila of Manikganj, Baul artist Abul Sarkar allegedly made objectionable comments regarding the creation of Islam and Allah. A video of his remarks later went viral on social media.

Subsequently, a madrasa teacher named Mufti Abdullah filed a case under the Cyber Security Act at Ghior Police Station. Acting on the case, a team from Manikganj Detective Police arrested him from Madaripur.