A performance of the play Nityapuran, produced by Desh Natak, was halted on Saturday evening at the National Theater of Shilpakala Academy following protests.
The incident has sparked social media backlash, with many questioning the Academy’s decision.
A group of 20-25 young protesters gathered outside Shilpakala Academy, objecting to the performance. Responding to the situation, Professor Syed Jamil Ahmed, Director General of Shilpakala Academy, held a virtual press conference on Sunday morning to discuss the circumstances surrounding the closure.
"Recently, Shilpakala Academy has faced attacks in 22 locations across the country," Professor Ahmed explained.
"The safety of the audience inside the Dhaka Shilpakala Academy was a concern. We didn’t want to risk any incidents during the performance, so we decided to cancel the show for their safety. I went inside to personally apologise to the audience."
Describing the events of the evening, Professor Ahmed said he was initially at the Jatra Festival in Suhrawardy Udyan with Faiz Zaheer, Director of the Drama Department, when they heard about the protest. He approached the protesters to understand their concerns.
"The protesters alleged that Ehsanul Aziz Babu, a member of Desh Natak, was associated with a dictatorship and claimed they would not allow his troupe to perform," Professor Ahmed shared. "I tried to explain that 200 members of Desh Natak had actively participated in the July uprising, with one even sustaining gunshot injuries."
Initially, the protesters seemed to accept his words, and the Academy attempted to resume the play. However, the protest reignited with greater intensity. "One protester, who identified himself as a rickshaw puller, shared that he, too, had been shot in the July movement," Ahmed recounted.
As the performance time approached, the protestors gathered outside the Academy, brandishing a banner and chanting slogans against Desh Natak. They also attempted to prevent audience members from entering.
According to sources, the protest was primarily directed at Desh Natak member Ehsan Aziz Babu for his alleged anti-national statements on Facebook, which included satirical portrayals of the country’s leaders. The protestors demanded Babu’s expulsion from Desh Natak and called for him to be held accountable within 24 hours. They also urged Shilpakala Academy to reconsider granting hall space to groups involved in such controversies.
Professor Ahmed concluded by reaffirming Shilpakala Academy's commitment to audience safety and the importance of cultural expression, while emphasising that such disruptions are a challenge in the current political climate.