Dhaka, Nov. 28 -- Artists, poets, cultural activists, and fans of traditional Baul music singer Abul Sarker on Friday took to the streets to protest his arrest and demand his immediate and unconditional release.

The interim government recently arrested the king of Baul music (Moharaja Abul Sarkar) after an Islamist extremist group claimed that a song by Abul Sarkar insulted Islam. Abul Sarker's wife, Aleya Begum, denied the allegations, saying her husband is innocent.

His fans and supporters gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital, Dhaka, and protested by singing songs by Abul Sarkar. UNESCO declared Bangladesh's traditional Baul music as Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Following the student-led uprising on August 5, 2024...