Popular rock band Ark’s lead vocalist Hasan was hit by a water bottle while performing at the “Songs of the Monsoon Revolution” concert at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka on Wednesday (August 5). The concert was organised to mark July Mass Uprising Day.

The event featured performances by Parsha Mahjabeen, Shezan, Kureghor, Arbovirus, AvoidRafa, Asif Akbar, Shironamhin, Ark and Artcell.

A video shared on social media shows Hasan singing at the front of the stage when a water bottle was thrown from the audience and struck him in the face. Water splashed over his body and across the stage. Despite the incident, he continued his performance.

Composer and lyricist Prince Mahmud questioned the organisers’ security arrangements and called for those responsible to be identified. He wrote, “Yesterday, while artiste Hasan was performing with his band on stage, some people threw a bottle at him. Why? A group standing at the front was shouting ‘Fake, fake’. Who were they? What was their purpose in attending the event? A serious accident could have happened.”

He added, “There were enough CCTV cameras and mobile phone cameras at the venue. If they wanted, those responsible could be identified. Mark every one of them. Ensuring the highest level of security for performers on stage is the main condition of any successful event. Did the organisers properly fulfil this responsibility?”
 
Singer and composer Jon Kabir reflected on the lack of respect artistes often face despite dedicating their lives to music. He wrote, “Decades poured into art you believed was changing lives and it turns out none of it mattered. You were never seen, never respected as an artiste. A cheap thrill for an audience too selfish to care who you are or what your work actually means. Most of the time they took the show and threw away the substance.”

Ajkaler Khobor/MK