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Publication: The Daily Star
Date:  May 19, 2020
URL:      https://www.thedailystar.net/country/news/music-room-baul-shah-abdul-karims-disciple-torched-sunamganj-1904065

The music room of Baul Ranesh Thakur of Sunamganj's Derai upazila -- a notable disciple of Baul Shah Abdul Karim -- has been burnt down allegedly by unidentified miscreants.

The fire started at the room adjacent to Ranesh's house at Ujandhal village around 1:40am yesterday, reports our Sylhet correspondent quoting KM Nazrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Derai Police Station.

Some of the musical instruments kept in the room were burnt along with the structure, built separately for music practice, said Ranesh Thakur.

"Hearing people shouting, I woke up and saw that the room was burning. I believe someone torched it as I used to sing in the room. But I have no idea who would do this," Ranesh said.

Baul Shah Abdul Karim's son Shah Nur Jalal, whose house is adjacent to Ranesh's, said "I was awake that night. Hearing screams, I rushed to Ranesh's house and saw that the room was burning."

"Ranesh has no enemy and we really have no idea who could torch the room," he said.

"We inspected the spot but could not determine how the fire started," OC KM Nazrul Islam said yesterday, adding that "If Ranesh Thakur files a complaint with the police station, we will investigate the matter."

Ranesh Thakur was set to file a case against unknown miscreants with Derai Police Station this afternoon in this regard, he told our correspondent today.

Meanwhile, local administration visited the spot this morning and gave Tk 20,000 to Ranesh for repairing the room, said Md Shafiullah, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Derai.

He will also be provided sheets of tin for the ceiling from the upazila administration, the UNO said.