Activists gather for the return of ‘Nityapurana’ after its abrupt halt

On November 2, an unexpected disruption at the National Theater Hall of Shilpakala Academy (BSA) in Bangladesh resulted in the sudden cancellation of the play “Nityapurana”. A group of protesters gathered outside the venue, prompting Shilpakala Academy Director General Syed Jamil Ahmed to halt the proceedings to ensure the safety of the public and the premises.

While the play had started on time, the demonstrators resumed their protest outside the gates shortly afterwards. To prevent escalation, Syed, in consultation with Desh Natok, the theater group that supervised the play, decided to cancel the show. He explained this decision in a virtual press conference on Monday morning.

The abrupt cancellation of the performance has sparked widespread public debate, with the decision receiving significant backlash on social media. Many are questioning the academy’s actions, with some even calling for Syed Jamil Ahmed’s resignation.

Theater activists protest against cultural repression

In response to growing challenges to artistic expression, a group of theater activists gathered outside the main gate of Shilpakala Academy on Monday afternoon (November 4). Under the banner of “Bikkhubdo Theaterkormi” (Protesting Theater Activists), they held a demonstration against what they called a “deliberate conspiracy” to suppress culture.
Prominent figures such as actor Azad Abul Kalam; director Mohammad Ali Haider of BotTala; Kamal Uddin Kabir, lecturer in theater studies at Jagannath University; director and teacher Samina Lutfa Nitra; lighting designer Nasirul Haque Khokon of Nagorik Natya Sampradaya; playwright Masum Reza; and Saidur Rahman Lipon, a teacher and principal of Rabindra University, were among the speakers. Actor Mahmud also joined the protest.

A ‘dangerous precedent’ in the history of theater in Bangladesh

Speakers at the meeting condemned the suspension of “Nityapurana”, calling it a dark chapter in Bangladesh’s theater history. They expressed concern that this action has alarmed artists and citizens across the country.
“Theater is a collaborative art form, in which individuals with different political beliefs and ideals coexist,” they emphasized. “Such diversity and tolerance are theater’s strengths, and political views should not be seen as a barrier to art. It is dangerous when individual opinions are used to discredit entire groups, as we have seen in the past. “

The activists emphasized that the practice of holding a theater company responsible for the personal views of any of its members reflects authoritarian tendencies. They recalled cases where entire political parties were branded treasonous because of a member’s Facebook post, leading to widespread harassment. “Such practices have no place in a new Bangladesh,” they said.

Demands for immediate resumption of the play

The protest ended with a number of important demands. These include immediate resumption of the halted “Nityapurana” show within seven days, opening up the Shilpakala Academy to common theater artists, audiences and citizens, reducing bureaucratic influence on the institution’s activities and ensuring fairness eliminating favoritism in the allocation of performance spaces to theater groups.
The speakers emphasized that halting or calling for the cancellation of plays is unacceptable under any circumstances.