Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi in a statement on Friday condemned the cancellation of permission for organising the two-day ‘Lalon Mela’ in Narsinghpur village of Kashipur union in Narayanganj Sadar.
The statement, signed by Udichi president Professor Badiur Rahman and general secretary Amit Ranjan Dey, said that like every year, the Lalon Mela was scheduled to be organised on November 22 and 23 at the Muktidham Ashram and on the Lalon Academy premises in the village.
But, without taking action against those who had threatened to stop the festival, and ensuring its security, in the face of threats from sectarian groups, including the Hefazat-e-Islam’s leader Maulana Abdul Awal, the district administration refused to allow the permission to conduct the festival, said the statement.
It also said that that the environment for cultural practice in the country had been disrupted through this incident.
Mentioning if the fair was not stopped, Maulana Abdul Awal threatened to demolish everything, the statement said that Fakir Shah Jalal, founder of Muktidham Ashram and Lalon Academy, did not get any assurance about security despite informing the police.
‘After the fall of the fascist Awami League government, people are expecting the establishment of a society and state without discrimination,’ Udichi said, pointing out, ‘But some groups have been trying to take benefits and want to achieve their own interests.’
The police and administration have also not taken any exemplary action in any of the incidents, said the statement, demanding those involved in the closure of the Lalon Mela be identified, arrested and punished immediately.
The statement also demanded to immediately ensure a safe environment for cultural practice in the country by resisting sectarianism.