Chaos at Jal's concert in Bangladesh prompts military intervention

Pakistani band's first performance in 14 years was marred by a chaotic crowd, technical glitches, and rain.
News Desk | October 01, 2024

A Pakistani band, Jal, returned to Bangladesh after 14 years, performing at a concert that spiralled into chaos, forcing the organisers to call in the army to control the crowd, according to Express news.

The event, titled "Legends of the Decade," featured both local Bangladeshi bands and Jal, the Pakistani group.

Originally scheduled to be held at Dhaka Arena, heavy rainfall prompted a last-minute venue change to a mall.

What was set to be an unforgettable night of music quickly descended into chaos, leaving fans disappointed as the headlining act, Pakistani band Jal, was forced to cut their performance short in Dhaka.

After 14 years, Jal took to the stage at Jamuna Future Park, greeted by an overwhelming crowd that swarmed every corner of the venue.

Fans peered from railings across all eight floors of the mall, even taking over elevators, captivated by Goher Mumtaz’s heartfelt rendition of the iconic 'Aadat.'

The atmosphere was thick with nostalgia and emotion, as the crowd was swept up in the band's classic hits.

Without a word of farewell, he left the stage, leaving fans stunned by the sudden end to a performance they had waited years for.

The show, plagued by poor management, technical glitches, and an unruly crowd, spiralled out of control.

The overcrowded venue, filled with many without tickets, became unmanageable. At one point, the situation grew so dire that the military had to be called in to restore order.

One couldn't help but notice the irony as an organiser had confidently assured the media the night before, "The safety of the artist and audience is our number one priority."

Yet, the disorganised scene played out as the event spun further out of control, leaving fans frustrated.

The night wasn’t without moments of brilliance, though.

Local band Vikings performed crowd favourites like 'Bhalobashi Jaare,' but the shoddy sound system marred their set, making it hard for the audience to truly enjoy the performance.

Originally planned to be held at Dhaka Arena, the event was moved to Jamuna Future Park due to rain, but the switch in venue guaranteed technical problems.

The organisers struggled to adapt, failing to manage the logistics of the new setting.

As the night continued, the organisers repeatedly reminded the crowd that this was not the concert they had envisioned.

Yet, the lack of proper planning raised serious questions about whether this event could have been salvaged with better preparation.

Fans who managed to make it inside found themselves packed wall-to-wall, with little to no view of the stage.

Many were left watching the performance on a lone screen, despite having paid Tk3,000, ($27 USD) for tickets.

Further adding to the confusion, the mall remained open to the public during the concert, separated by flimsy black curtains that were soon taken down as the unruly crowd became impossible to control.

Attempts to calm the crowd failed, and military intervention became necessary.

Despite the chaotic environment, Jal gave the audience a brief moment of unity, as everyone sang along to 'Woh Lamhey.'

But even that could not overshadow the technical issues and crowd disorder.

Goher's performance, though sincere, didn't fully capture the nostalgic charm fans had hoped for, leaving many craving more.

To the fans' delight, Jal performed an unreleased song before leaving the stage, giving the crowd something to look forward to despite the unfinished performance.

Among the night’s highlights was Aurthohin's performance, although the band took the stage an hour late.

Bassbaba Sumon captivated the audience with 'Chaitei Paro,' and every song that followed, including 'Aushomapto,' 'Epitaph,' and 'Nikkristo,' was delivered with the power and emotion fans had come to expect.

The performance was bittersweet, however, as it marked Mahaan Fahim’s last show with Aurthohin due to health complications.

The band later shared a post wishing him a speedy recovery.

Despite the night’s many issues, the loyal fans held on until the end, staying for Jal but ultimately walking away with mixed emotions.

What should have been a night celebrating music legends turned into an event marred by mismanagement, technical difficulties, and a chaotic crowd.

The concert marked Jal's first performance in Bangladesh in over a decade, making it a much-anticipated event.

RELATED

Load Next Story

Join Us

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed or derived from. Unless otherwise stated, all content is copyrighted © 2024 The Express Tribune.

FOLLOW US