Police bar annual 'Sarat Utsob' in Old Dhaka

The Satyen Sen Shilpi Group was forced to cancel its annual “Sarat Utsob” festival in Old Dhaka’s Gandaria after police blocked the event, citing a lack of official approval.

The festival, held for 19 consecutive years, was originally scheduled for Friday morning at Bakultala in Dhaka University’s Faculty of Fine Arts. Authorities, however, revoked permission for the venue the night before the event.

Organisers then attempted to shift the festival to the Kachikanchar Mela grounds in Gandaria, but police intervened again, stating the event did not have proper approval.

“This has broken a 19-year tradition,” said Manzar Chowdhury Sweet, General Secretary of Satyen Sen Shilpi Group. “We have been hosting the festival at Bakultala every year, except during the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, we could not hold it at all.”

Despite the obstacles, organisers performed the national anthem, conducted a brief children’s art session, and observed a minute’s silence in memory of late musician Farida Parveen.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Wari Division) Mohammad Harunor Rashid told reporters, “No prior permission was taken to hold the Autumn Festival in Gandaria.”

Manzar Chowdhury said the group had obtained police approval for Bakultala and had paid Tk 26,000 as rent for the venue. “The approval was cancelled the night before without any explanation,” he said. “We then decided to move the event to Gandaria, but police blocked us there too.”

A teacher from the Faculty of Fine Arts suggested that concerns over potential unrest contributed to the cancellation. Posters linking Manzar Chowdhury to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reportedly circulated on social media.

“They verbally told us that holding the event could cause ‘riots’ and asked us not to proceed, even though we had written permission,” Manzar said. “Our event was scheduled for 7:30am. We brought the necessary equipment the night before, but it was not allowed into the Fine Arts gate.”

Faculty of Fine Arts Dean Azharul Islam confirmed the cancellation on Thursday night. “There were many objections to holding the event here,” he said. “Due to objections from various student quarters, the event has been banned from being held here tomorrow.”

When asked who raised the objections, Azharul declined to comment, citing a personal appointment.