Dhaka: Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy director general Syed Jamil Ahmed announced that the decision to halt the play “Nityopuran,” performed by theatre troupe Desh Natak, was made to ensure the audience’s safety. The interruption occurred after agitators attempted to breach the academy’s premises, accusing Desh Natak’s Ehshanul Aziz Babu of promoting fascism through a controversial Facebook post.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Jamil Ahmed explained during a virtual press briefing that 22 branches of the Shilpakala Academy were recently attacked. With these incidents in consideration, and prioritizing the safety of those inside the hall, the play was stopped midway. Ahmed personally apologized to the audience for the disruption.
The disturbance arose around 6 p.m. when a group of protestors tried to force entry into the academy, accusing Babu of fascism due to an edited photo he shared. The image depicted some advisers of the interim government as “Razakars,” wearing Jinnah caps. Jamil Ahmed emphas
ized his commitment to fostering a “people-friendly Shilpakala Academy,” aspiring for genuine public support over reliance on law enforcement.
Ahmed reiterated the importance of public responsibility in promoting the arts, stating that the arts academy should be centered around societal engagement. He acknowledged the law enforcement’s presence during the incident but stressed the need to avoid confrontation with the protesters. He advocated for the freedom of expression in the arts, allowing the audience to decide their participation.
Despite the initial protest, Ahmed attempted to reason with the agitators, highlighting Desh Natak’s involvement in the July-August mass uprising, where some members were injured. Although the protesters initially retreated and the play resumed, the protest reignited, leading to the final decision to stop the performance after further consultation with Desh Natak members.
This incident followed a Facebook post by Ehshanul Aziz Babu on October 17, urging people to unite and c
onfront entities he labeled as “anti-Bangladesh, anti-independence Razakars,” accompanied by the contentious edited image.