‘Had To Hide Indian Identity’: Kolkata Sarod Player Shiraz Ali Khan Recalls Harrowing Bangladesh Escape

A Kolkata-based sarod player was forced to flee Bangladesh after a leading cultural venue in Dhaka was vandalised just hours before his scheduled concert. According to a TOI report, Shiraz Ali Khan, who was due to perform at Chhayanaut on December 19, said the attack left him shaken and unable to continue his visit. 

The incident took place amid nationwide unrest following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a radical leader linked to last year’s anti-Hasina protests.

Shiraz managed to return to Kolkata on Saturday evening but said the journey was filled with fear. His tabla player remains stranded in Dhaka and is hoping to return early next week. Several other accompanying artistes are also stuck in the city. Shiraz said he had to suppress his Indian

identity while leaving Bangladesh due to growing anti-India sentiment.

What we know about Shiraz Ali Khan?

Although based in Kolkata, Shiraz’s family has deep roots in Bangladesh. He is the son of Ustad Dhyanesh Khan, the grandson of sarod maestro Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, and the great-grandson of Baba Allauddin Khan, who hailed from Brahmanbaria in present-day Bangladesh. Shiraz said attacks on institutions linked to this shared musical heritage were deeply painful.

“Years ago, a college named after my great-grandfather in Brahmanbaria was attacked. But the vandalism of Chhayanaut is an unimaginable assault on our culture and shared values,” he said.

Shiraz hid identity to stay safe

Shiraz arrived in Dhaka on December 16 and performed at a jazz concert in Banani on December 17. His classical recital at Chhayanaut was scheduled two days later. He described the Banani performance as intimate but heartfelt, attended by fewer than 20 people.

On the morning of December 19, he learned that Chhayanaut had been attacked. “I couldn’t believe the building where I was meant to perform had been destroyed. Seeing the images was deeply disturbing,” he said.

While leaving Dhaka, Shiraz was stopped at a checkpoint and questioned about carrying foreign currency. Fearing for his safety, he did not reveal his Indian identity and spoke in the Brahmanbaria dialect he learned from his mother. His Indian passport and phone were hidden by the driver until he reached the airport.

“I never imagined I would have to hide who I am,” he said.

Shiraz said his mother is still in Bangladesh, along with several Hindu accompanists whose names he has withheld for safety reasons. He added that he would not return to Bangladesh until artistes and cultural institutions are protected and respected again.