All programmes and exhibitions at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy have been suspended indefinitely, citing unavoidable circumstances, authorities said on Friday, December 20, amid continuing unrest across the country.
The decision led to the cancellation of scheduled performances, including the second showing of the play Gandhasutra, which was set to be staged on Friday evening, December 19, at the Studio Theatre auditorium of the National Theatre Hall. The inaugural performance of the play was held on Thursday evening by the theatre group Abalokan.
Kazi Toufiqul Islam Emon, director of Gandhasutra, said the performance had to be cancelled after the Shilpakala Academy withdrew the allocation of the auditorium. “The Shilpakala Academy has been closed today due to the chaotic situation in the country. Therefore, we have had to cancel our performance,” he said.
In a Facebook post published Friday morning, Abalokan announced the cancellation, saying it was forced by the prevailing situation in the country. The group said audience members who had purchased tickets in advance would be contacted and refunds arranged. Deepak Kumar Goswami, Director of the Theatre and Film Department of the Shilpakala Academy, confirmed that all programmes and exhibitions have been suspended until further notice.
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