Spring Festival and Cultural Events Being Disrupted Across Bangladesh, Concern Among Civil Society

Spring Festival and Cultural Events Being Disrupted Across Bangladesh, Concern Among Civil Society

After a cultural event in Uttara, Dhaka was canceled, the 'Dhaka Metropolitan Theatre Festival' scheduled to be held from February 15 to 28 was also postponed within a day. The event, set to run for two weeks, had to be canceled by the organizers at the last moment.

Additionally, a Spring Festival was scheduled in Uttara on February 14, but it could not be held due to opposition from local individuals. This issue was not limited to Uttara, as similar disruptions have been faced by cultural events in other regions of the country, including Chittagong.

In Chittagong’s CRB ground, the Spring Festival by the recitation organization "Proma" was also canceled by the Railway authorities. Rashed Hasan, president of Proma recitation organization, mentioned that the Railway authorities informed them in the afternoon to cancel the event.

Meanwhile, some individuals in Uttara forced the cancellation of the 'National Spring Festival Celebration Committee’s' event. Local demands included changing the name of the stage and protesting the organizers’ preferences.

In Tangail, the Lalon Memorial Festival was also postponed due to objections from Hefazat-e-Islam and the Qaumi Ulama Parishad, but a new date was set after negotiations.

Professor Zobaida Nasreen of Dhaka University told BBC Bangla, “These are not isolated incidents; they are part of a continuous pattern.”

She further emphasized that the Spring Festival and Lalon Festival are integral parts of the cultural heritage of the region. "These events are not just about music and songs; they are part of our identity," she stated.

“What is happening is not unplanned or apolitical. A particular religious group is causing these disruptions. However, the government has not taken any stance or action on who is doing this or through what means,” she added.

Political analysts are also stating that these incidents are not isolated but are part of a continuous trend where religious groups, in particular, are hindering cultural events. Many are questioning the role of the government, as no action has been taken at the state level, despite the ongoing disruptions to multiple events.

Experts suggest that the cancellation of these events is an attack on the history and heritage of Bangladesh.