An incident of vandalism and looting occurred at Chhayabani Cinema Hall in Mymensingh Sadar on Saturday afternoon during the screening of superstar Shakib Khan’s hit film Tandob.
The chaos broke out when a technical glitch interrupted the show, angering the audience. Police later intervened and restored order, allowing the screening to resume.
Once a cultural hub, Mymensingh once hosted five major theaters—Ajanta, Chhayabani, Alka, Purabi, and Sena Auditorium.
Over the years, due to declining film quality, audience shortages, and a bombing incident in 2002, most of these theaters shut down. Only Chhayabani remains operational, mostly drawing crowds during Eid.
On Eid day, the theater was overwhelmed by eager viewers, surpassing its 750-seat capacity. During the 3:30 PM show, a sudden disruption due to technical failure sparked outrage.
Several seats, posters, ticket counters, and windows were damaged. The screening was suspended from 6:00 to 7:00 PM.
Viewers complained of poor management—long queues, inadequate facilities, and the movie being stopped before ending. Some alleged the authorities continued selling tickets despite overcrowding and ongoing disruptions in sound and display.
The cashier reported unexpected audience aggression, noting damage to chairs and looting from the cash counter.
A police official stated that while technical issues can happen, taking the law into one’s own hands is unacceptable.
