The Bengal Foundation cancelled its classical music festival 2017 after it failed to secure Dhaka’s Army Stadium as a venue, organisers have said.
The decision was made after ‘taking the security of foreign performers into consideration’, said Bengal Foundation Chairman Abul Khaer Litu at a press conference in Dhaka on Sunday.
The sixth Bengal Classical Music Festival was scheduled to be held from Nov 23 to Nov 27. The previous iterations of the event had been held at the Army Stadium.
The events were very popular among cultural figures and music lovers in Dhaka. Many notable figures, including government ministers, were seen spending long nights listening to classical artists from the Indian subcontinent at the events.
The Bengal Foundation chairman said they had applied for the Army Stadium venue after making their initial preparations for the event. But, on Aug 31, the Army Sports Control Board said it could not give permission for the event because it would conflict with security preparations for the Pope’s visit to Bangladesh.
Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, is to arrive in Bangladesh on Nov 30. The Bengal Foundation sent another letter requesting permission to use the Army Stadium on Sept 9, arguing the main event for the Pope’s visit was not to be held at the Army Stadium. But the board denied them again.
“It takes eight months of thorough planning for this event. It is not possible to change or adjust our plans after such intense coordination.”
“Changing the event will endanger the reputation we have built in the five years of the festival. This is why, at this point, we will not be able to change the location, the date and timing, or the artists attending.”
“The Army Stadium is known as a secure venue to foreign artists. We cannot change it at this late stage.”
Litu said he had finalised plans for the travel and performances of first class classical musicians from India, new and venerable artists from Bangladesh and other participants in August, according to bdnews24.
The organisation attempted to identify alternate venues and requested the Cultural Affairs Ministry to provide permissions for the foreign artists, said Litu. Taxes were even submitted to the National Board of Revenue. But they did not receive permission to hold overnight events at those venues, he said.
