A renowned Kolkata-based sarod player, Shiraz Ali Khan, was forced to flee Bangladesh after his concert venue in Dhaka was vandalized. The incident occurred hours before his scheduled performance on December 19 at Chhayanaut, a prominent cultural hub. The vandalism took place amidst widespread unrest following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a radical leader involved in anti-government protests last year.

Shiraz Ali Khan, who has family roots in Bangladesh, managed to escape to Kolkata on Saturday evening, concealing his Indian identity during his departure. His tabla player remains in Bangladesh, awaiting a safe return.

Shiraz's family has a deep connection to Bangladesh; his great-grandfather, Ustad Allauddin Khan, hailed from Brahmanbaria. Ustad Allauddin Khan is a legendary figure in Hindustani classical music, and the attack on a cultural institution like Chhayanaut has deeply affected Shiraz. "Some years ago, a college in Ustad Allauddin Khan's name (in Brahmanbaria) was attacked. But the attack on Chhayanaut is an unimaginable assault on our culture and shared values," Shiraz stated.

Prior to the incident, Shiraz had arrived in Dhaka on December 16 and performed at a jazz concert in Banani on December 17. Despite a small audience, he found the experience "heartfelt". He never anticipated the tragic turn of events that would befall the musical community just days later. On the morning of December 19, he learned about the attack on Chhayanaut and was shocked to see images of the destruction.

As Shiraz attempted to leave Dhaka, he was stopped at a checkpoint and questioned about foreign currency. Fortunately, he had none, which allowed him to proceed.

The incident has sparked condemnation and concern. Garga Chatterjee, general secretary of Bangla Pokkho, has criticized the violence and asserted that Bangladesh has become a violent nation. He called for the Indian government to sever trade and diplomatic ties with Bangladesh.

Shiraz Ali Khan is the son of Ustad Dhyanesh Khan, grandson of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, and great-grandson of Baba Allauddin Khan, carrying forward a rich musical legacy. The sarod is a stringed instrument central to Hindustani classical music, believed to have evolved from the Afghan rubab. It is known for its deep, resonant sound and is considered one of the most prominent instruments in North Indian classical music, second only to the sitar.