The “Dhaka Metropolitan Theatre Festival” has been suspended due to alleged threats, confirmed Dhaka Metropolitan Theatre Council convener Thandu Raihan. He stated, “Considering the unforeseen situation and the safety of all, we are compelled to temporarily suspend this beloved theatre festival.”
The festival was scheduled to be inaugurated on Saturday (February 15) at 5 PM at the Mohila Samiti Auditorium on Natok Sarani in Dhaka. A total of 85 theatre groups were set to stage one play each in three phases.
According to an online report by BDNews24, a group of people visited Mohila Samiti on Friday evening and raised objections about the festival. They also allegedly threatened to attack the event if it took place.
Festival Celebration Committee member secretary Kamal Ahmed told BDNews that on Friday afternoon, an official from Bangladesh Mohila Samiti informed them that Ramna police station had advised canceling the festival. The festival committee then contacted the officer-in-charge (OC) of Ramna police station and later met with him at his office in the evening to explain the details of the event.
When asked whether police permission was obtained for the festival, Kamal Ahmed responded, “We do not require police permission for staging plays at the auditorium. No foreign theatre groups were participating either. The groups performing in this festival regularly stage plays, and such events do not require police or government approval.”
Organizers reported that after news of the meeting at the police station spread, “an agitated group” entered the Mohila Samiti premises and dismantled the festival decorations.
When asked who issued the threats, Kamal Ahmed stated, “Previously, a play staged by a theatre group at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy was halted midway, and when theatre activists protested, they were attacked. Theatre personality Mamunur Rashid and other artists were among the victims. We believe today’s incident is a continuation of that pattern.”
A responsible official from Mohila Samiti told the media, “There was a risk of an attack on the Mohila Samiti premises due to the festival. That is why we informed the organizers about the situation, and they decided to suspend the festival.”
When contacted for a statement, Ramna Police Station OC Golam Faruq told BDNews24 at 2:15 PM on Saturday, “I am in a meeting; I will speak later.” However, when called again at 3:45 PM, he did not respond.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Deputy Commissioner of the Ramna Division, Masud Alam, stated, “I have no information regarding this matter.”
