The Satyen Sen Shilpi Group has been unable to hold its "Sarat Utsob” in Old Dhaka’s Gandaria this year after police blocked the event, citing a lack of approval.
The annual festival, held for the past 19 years, was initially scheduled to take place at Bakultala of Dhaka University’s Faculty of Fine Arts on Friday morning, reports bdnews24.com.
However, the venue’s approval was cancelled the night before.
The organisers then announced that the festival would be held at the same time at the Kachikanchar Mela grounds in Gandaria.
But police intervened there as well, saying the organisers did not have permission for the event.
“This has broken a 19-year tradition,” said Satyen Sen Shilpi Group General Secretary Manzar Chowdhury Sweet.
“We have been organising the festival at Bakultala in Charukola for 19 years. It was only suspended during the COVID pandemic. This time, we couldn’t hold it at all.”
Despite the obstacles, organisers performed the national anthem, held a brief children’s art session, and observed a minute’s silence in memory of late musician Farida Parveen.
When contacted, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Wari Division) Mohammad Harunor Rashid told bdnews24.com, “No prior permission was taken to hold the Autumn Festival in Gandaria.”
Manzar Chowdhury, however, said they had police permission for the event at Bakultala and had paid Tk 26,000 to the Fine Arts authorities as rent for the venue.
“But the venue cancelled the night before without providing any reason,” he said.
“After that, we decided to move the event to Gandaria, but police blocked us there too.”
A teacher from the Faculty of Fine Arts told bdnews24.com that the venue was cancelled amid concerns that “some people might create trouble” by branding Manzar Chowdhury a “cultural fascist”.
Posters featuring his photo alongside former prime minister Sheikh Hasina were reportedly circulated on social media.
When asked, Manzar said, “They verbally told us that holding the event could cause ‘riots’ and asked us not to go ahead, though we had written permission.”
He added, “Our event was supposed to start at 7:30am. We brought the necessary equipment the night before, but they were not allowed to enter through the Fine Arts gate.”
Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Arts Dean Azharul Islam confirmed on Thursday night that permission for the event had been withdrawn.
“There were many objections to holding the event here,” he said.
“Due to objections from various student quarters, the event has been banned from being held here tomorrow.”
When asked who raised the objections, Azharul said, “I’m a little sick and am visiting the dentist. I can’t talk now.”
