Pakistani band Jal returns to Dhaka after 12 years; chaos mars concert

Pakistani pop-rock band Jal returned to Dhaka after 12 years, headlining the much-anticipated “Legends of the Decade” concert. However, the event, originally scheduled for Friday, faced significant disruptions, finally taking place a day later amid widespread chaos.

Initially set for the Dhaka Arena on Purbachal Expressway, the concert was moved to the North Court of Jamuna Future Park on Saturday due to safety and security concerns. According to reports, the Dhaka Arena venue was not adequately prepared. The sudden change, combined with the disorganized crowd, led to confusion and unrest among attendees, UNB reports.

The event featured Jal alongside three renowned Bangladeshi bands: Aurthohin, Vikings, and Conclusion. The concert kicked off in the afternoon with Conclusion, but soon ran into trouble as the venue became overcrowded. At one point, the gates were broken, allowing people to enter without tickets, infuriating those who had paid Tk 3,050 for admission.

Vikings, one of the major acts celebrating their 27th anniversary, took the stage after Conclusion. They managed to perform five songs but had to stop midway through their sixth song, "Neel Hobo," due to safety concerns as the chaos escalated. The concert was halted for an hour and a half, with the situation worsening as more people flooded the venue.

Anondo Chowdhury, CEO of Assen, one of the organizing companies, took to the stage to address the crowd, announcing that the North Court area would be opened to accommodate the growing audience. However, the unrest continued, prompting Alamgir Alam, Director of Jamuna Group, to intervene. He explained that the concert had been moved to Jamuna Future Park due to security concerns, but panic among shopkeepers and repeated requests to stop the event had led to the army being called in for security.