Despite all preparations, the Dhaka Metropolitan Theatre Festival has been postponed due to security concerns. Organizers say they have postponed the event "due to threats from a group of individuals."
The festival was scheduled to be inaugurated at 5 pm on Saturday (January 15) at the Dhaka Women's Association Auditorium and the Liberation War-based play 'Payer Awaaz Pawa Jay' was scheduled to be staged in the evening. 85 theatre groups were scheduled to stage one play each in the three stages of the festival.
Thandu Raihan, convener of the Dhaka Metropolitan Theatre Board, said, "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are forced to temporarily postpone the Praner Natyotsab, which we have organized with tireless work and love, considering the safety of everyone."
It is learnt that some people came to the women's association on Friday evening and raised objections to the festival. They also threatened to attack the festival hall.
Kamal Ahmed, member secretary of the festival celebration council, said, "On Friday afternoon, the official in charge of the Bangladesh Women's Association told us that the Ramna police station had asked us to stop the drama festival over the phone. We contacted the OC of Ramna police station on behalf of the festival committee. In the evening, we met the OC in his office and informed him of the details of the festival. After discussions at the police station, when the police assured us of security, an application was submitted seeking security cooperation," he said.
However, organizers said that after receiving news of the police station meeting, "some excited people" came and removed the festival decorations from the women's association premises.
A responsible person from the women's association, on condition of anonymity, said, "There is a fear of an attack on the women's association surrounding this festival. Therefore, we have informed the organizers of the situation. They have postponed the festival."
Masud Alam, Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Ramna Division, said, "I don't know anything about this."
