Dbarta24 Correspondent; KISHOREGANJ — A scheduled musical concert at the Old Stadium in Kishoreganj district town was canceled by the local administration following strong objections raised by the local Imam-Ulama Council regarding religious sentiments and potential law and order disruptions.
The event, scheduled for Wednesday evening, was set to feature popular Bangladeshi rock band ‘Ashes’ alongside singer Mainul Ahsan Noble. The concert was organized by a local eatery, Alishan Restaurant, as part of a promotional raffle draw award ceremony.
Sequence of Events and Objections
The restaurant authorities officially announced the event program on Monday, August 17. On the very same day, the Kishoreganj Sadar Upazila branch of the Imam-Ulama Council submitted a formal application to the District Commissioner (DC) requesting an immediate ban on the event.
In the application signed by Maulana Ahmadullah, President of the Sadar Upazila Imam-Ulama Council, the organization expressed concerns that hosting such an event could inflame local religious sentiments and deteriorate the regional law and order situation.
Speaking on Wednesday afternoon, Maulana Ahmadullah confirmed the cancellation:
“Following our written application, the district administration assured us that the concert would be stopped. Subsequently, the event was officially canceled.”Field Situation and Organizer’s Response
By Wednesday afternoon, organizers were seen dismantling the stage setup at the Old Stadium grounds and loading sound equipment and structural materials onto trucks and local vehicles.
Expressing disappointment, Md. Ibrahim Khalil, owner of Alishan Restaurant, stated that initial approval had been granted before being abruptly rescinded:
“The concert was arranged to complement our restaurant’s promotional raffle draw award ceremony. Although the district administration initially granted permission, they informed us today that the concert could no longer proceed.”Administrative Rationale
Clarifying the decision to revoke permission, Kishoreganj District Commissioner Sohana Nasrin pointed to security intelligence and licensing issues surrounding the event sponsors.
“The permit for the concert was revoked based on reports from various intelligence agencies highlighting the risk of deteriorating law and order. Furthermore, the restaurant that organized the event lacks the necessary operational licenses.”
The abrupt cancellation underscores ongoing tensions surrounding public cultural events and local religious sensibilities in rural districts.
With stage structures cleared and equipment packed away, the district administration maintains that the intervention was essential to prevent potential unrest and enforce regulatory compliance.