On February 15, the Dhaka Metropolitan Theater Festival was scheduled to take place at Nilima Ibrahim Auditorium of the Women’s Association in the capital. However, it was eventually postponed. The organizer of the event, Dhaka Metropolitan Theater Council’s convener Thandu Raihan, explained that the festival was asked to be stopped via phone call from Ramna police station, which led to the postponement.
The postponement of the festival sparked a storm of criticism on social media. As the debate grew over the reasons for the cancellation, the government’s stance was clarified by cultural adviser Mostafa Sarwar Faruki. He posted a lengthy message on Facebook, explaining the real reason behind the postponement.
Faruki wrote, “After seeing the news of the festival’s cancellation, we began to inquire from last evening. The government is encouraging cultural programs across the country through the arts, just yesterday, there were three exhibitions in the arts center. Today, there is also a show by Prachyanat at the arts center. So why would the police ask for the festival to be stopped here?”
After inquiring, I learned that the police did not say anything of the sort. Last night, they issued a statement clarifying that they did not ask anyone to cancel the festival. In fact, they were ready to provide security. So, what’s the real story?
Faruki explained the actual situation, saying, “From our swift investigation, we found out that a group of theater workers has been opposing the festival has been pressuring the Women’s Association to cancel the hall booking for some time. These disgruntled theater workers claim that behind the festival, some individuals or their affiliates, who had incited violence during the July movement, are trying to organize. They demand that no rehabilitation should take place before these individuals are held accountable for their role in the killings of students and citizens in July. As a result, yesterday, the Women’s Association canceled the booking.”
However, what is unfortunate is that in their statement, they cleverly shifted the blame to the police. At the end of the statement, they claimed the festival had to be canceled due to a mob. They know who is protesting against them, yet they avoided naming them and instead used the term “mob”—is this an attempt to establish a specific narrative? Or, why are they avoiding mentioning why those theater workers are protesting? Everyone can think about whether this omission is an effort to create that narrative.”
Faruki also raised another question, “At the same time, another question arises—have they ever felt the need to apologize to the nation for their role in July?”
LND/SAKIB
