Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 07:03am on 23 Dec 2025,Tuesday India Global
Sarod maestro Shiraz Ali Khan, who traveled to Bangladesh for four concerts, was forced to flee by hiding his Indian identity. Arriving on December 16, he noticed sparse audiences and deteriorating conditions. At a Gulshan checkpoint, police stopped him for verification. Following advice from hotel staff and locals, he avoided carrying his passport, spoke in local Bangla instead of Kolkata Bangla, and emphasized his Muslim surname "Khan" for protection. After hearing about the Chhayanaut incident, he attempted contacting the closed Indian Embassy before managing to escape. His mother and tabla player remained behind. Khan warns no Indian is currently safe in Bangladesh due to overwhelming anti-India sentiment, advising against travel until conditions improve. (PC: X)
