'Shorot Utshob' at Charukala not cancelled, but suspended: dean

Permission for Shorot Utshob, organised by Satyen Sen Shilpigoshthi, was not cancelled but it has been suspended, Prof Md Azharul Islam Sheikh, dean of Dhaka University's Faculty of Fine Arts, clarified today.

According to a press release signed by the dean, Satyen Sen Shilpigoshthi was granted permission to hold the celebration at Charukala's Bokultola premises just like previous years.

The organisation has been celebrating the festival for the last 19 years.

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‘Objections from many quarters’: Permission for ‘Shorot Utshob’ at Charukala cancelled

However, on October 9, a group claiming to be "anti-fascist" writers, journalists, and artists submitted an appeal to the faculty, objecting to the event and urging authorities to withdraw the permission due an organiser's alleged ties to the previous fascist regime.

"To avoid any untoward incident, the festival has been suspended after discussions with the organisers," the press release said.

It further mentioned that a meeting will be held tomorrow between the faculty's teachers and representatives of Satyen Sen Shilpigoshthi to probe the allegations and decide whether the suspended event can be held later.

Last night, the organisers said that the faculty cancelled permission for holding Shorot Utshob, citing "objections from many quarters".

The organiser said they were verbally told there might be "trouble if the event takes place".