‘No connection between fire at Rahul Anand’s house and religion’

“The fire at Rahul Da's (Rahul Anand) house has no connection with his religion, race, caste, or culture. I request not to spread such rumours,” Farhana Hamid, one of the owners of fashion house Khut, wrote on Facebook.

On August 9, Farhana Hamid's post was shared from the official page of 'Joler Gaan' (Rahul Anand's band) with the caption, “Please read this and know the truth.”

After Sheikh Hasina's fall on August 5 due to a bloody uprising of students and people, victory processions were held across the country. On this day, incidents of arson and vandalism occurred at various government establishments and Awami League offices. There were also reports of attacks on minorities in some places.

Amidst this, the incident of fire at the rented house of 'Joler Gaan' musician, actor, and instrumentalist Rahul Anand and Khut's co-owner and artist Urmila Shukla in Dhanmondi 32 has been portrayed as a ‘communal attack’ by some media outlets in Kolkata and Dhaka. Similar narratives spread on social media.

Discussing the matter, fashion designer Farhana Hamid wrote about the details of the fire incident, saying that miscreants set fire targeting the Bangabandhu Museum in Dhanmondi 32. Rahul Anand's house is adjacent to the museum wall. Later, his house was also set on fire.

Rahul Anand confirmed the sharing of the post on Joler Gaan's official page to a top national daily. He said, “People from beggars to the upper class love me. They didn't come to set fire to my house. Among thousands of people, some over-enthusiastic individuals did this.”

Farhana Hamid wrote, “If they had targeted Rahul da, they wouldn't have allowed the family to leave like this. And if not allowed, it would have been impossible to leave that house. The fire at Rahul da's house has no connection with Rahul da's religion, race, caste, or culture. So I request not to spread such rumours. In the country's current situation, any rumour can take a terrible form. Let's be conscious.”

Farhana further wrote, “Personally, I'm not in favour of setting fire anywhere. Certainly not in favour of setting fire to an important part of the country's history like the Bangabandhu Museum. I am aware of and strongly against the attacks on minorities at this time. But that doesn't mean that if an attack was not made because of language, religion, race, caste, culture, rumours can spread and those rumours cannot be called rumours.”