Chaos at Jal’s Concert in Dhaka Leads Organizers to Call for Military Intervention
To make matters worse, the mall remained open to the public during the concert

Pakistani band Jal returned to Bangladesh after 14 14-year hiatus for a highly anticipated concert. Still, the event in Dhaka quickly spiralled into chaos, prompting organizers to call in the military to manage the unruly crowd.
The concert, titled “Legends of the Decade,” featured both local Bangladeshi bands and Jal the Band, on Sep 29 was held at Jamuna Future Park instead of the originally planned Dhaka Arena due to heavy rainfall.
The concert was marred by poor management and technical glitches, leading to an overcrowded venue that included many attendees without tickets.
As the situation escalated, the military was called in to restore order, highlighting the disorganization that plagued the event.
As Jal took the stage, they were greeted by an overwhelming crowd, eager to experience the band’s classic hits.
Fans packed every corner of the venue, with some even peering down from railings on all eight floors and taking over elevators to catch a glimpse of the performance.
Goher Mumtaz’s heartfelt rendition of the iconic song “Aadat” drew nostalgic reactions from the audience, creating an emotionally charged atmosphere.
However, the excitement quickly turned to disappointment as authorities abruptly halted the show, pulling Goher’s guitar and signalling the end of the performance without a farewell.
The sudden cut left fans stunned, especially those who had eagerly awaited this moment for years.
The evening saw local band Vikings perform popular tracks like “Bhalobashi Jaare,” but their set was hindered by a shoddy sound system, making it difficult for the audience to fully enjoy the performance.
Many attendees found themselves watching the performance on a single screen, despite having paid Tk3,000 ($27 USD) for tickets.
To make matters worse, the mall remained open to the public during the concert, with only flimsy black curtains providing separation. These curtains were soon removed as the unruly crowd became increasingly difficult to manage.
Efforts to restore order were unsuccessful, leading to the need for military intervention.