Rock icon James has issued an official statement after his scheduled performance in Faridpur was cancelled amid escalating disorder outside the venue, raising fresh questions about crowd management at large-scale cultural events.
The Nagar Baul frontman was due to perform on Friday night as part of the closing programme of Faridpur Zilla School’s 185th anniversary celebrations. However, the concert was called off after groups of outsiders reportedly threw bricks and stones towards the school premises, injuring several people and forcing organisers to prioritise security.
James later described the incident as a result of serious organisational failure. His spokesperson Rubaiyat Thakur Robin said the band arrived in Faridpur around 7:30 pm and were staying at a guest house when reports of unrest began to emerge. By around 10:30 pm, the situation had deteriorated to the point where the organisers formally cancelled the event, prompting the team to return to Dhaka without performing.
Organisers said the reunion programme was intended solely for registered former and current students, but news of James’s appearance drew thousands of unregistered spectators. Despite attempts to ease tensions by setting up projectors outside the school, sections of the crowd attempted to breach the boundary walls. Brick-throwing followed, leaving between 25 and 30 people injured, including members of the organising committee.
Police later confirmed that an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 people had gathered in the area, far exceeding the venue’s capacity. With the situation becoming increasingly volatile, authorities advised cancelling the concert to prevent further injuries.
