A special charity concert titled “Kuashar Gaan,” organized by the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and Spirits of July at the university’s central ground on Saturday, has sparked fierce debate after free cigarettes were reportedly distributed on-site and pro–referendum slogans were raised from the stage.
Attendees said a stall positioned behind the women’s section on the left side of the stage handed out cigarettes at no cost—prompting an online backlash from students who called it a clear breach of Bangladesh’s tobacco control law. Under the Smoking and Tobacco Products (Control) Act, 2005 (amended 2013):
- Section 5(b) prohibits free distribution or discounted sales meant to induce purchase;
- Section 5(g) bans sponsorships, donations, or event underwriting that promote tobacco use; violations can carry up to three months’ imprisonment or fines up to Tk 100,000;
- Section 6(b) forbids tobacco sales within 100 meters of educational institutions, hospitals, clinics, sports venues, and children’s parks, punishable by a Tk 5,000 fine.
The controversy deepened when DUCSU Literary & Cultural Secretary Mosaddiq Ali used his stage time to campaign for a referendum, triggering a volley of sardonic counter-chants from parts of the crowd.
Highlighted exchange from the crowd:
- Mosaddiq: “Quota or merit?”
Crowd reply: “Quota, quota.”- Mosaddiq: “Subservience or reform?”
Crowd reply: “Subservience, subservience.”- Mosaddiq: “Compromise or struggle?”
Crowd reply: “Compromise, compromise.”- Mosaddiq: “Who are you, who am I?”
Crowd reply: “Uranium, uranium.”
The concert featured performances by Shohojia, Avash, Habib Wahid, and Ashes and was billed as a fundraiser for winter relief. Despite positive reviews for the music, many students argued the event’s messaging and the alleged tobacco giveaways overshadowed its charitable aim.
In a subsequent social-media post, Mosaddiq Ali Ibn Mohammad expressed regret over “overall mismanagement” and the cigarette-distribution incident, saying he was “sorry” for the unintended outcome. Critics, however, urged DU authorities to investigate possible legal violations, review event vetting procedures, and enforce stricter guardrails on campus events—particularly concerning public health compliance and political neutrality at student welfare programs.