In Kalihati Upazila of Tangail district, the screening of ‘Tandav’, a film starring Shakib Khan, was abruptly halted after local Islamic clerics and religious groups launched protests. The organizers claim they were compelled to shut down the screenings due to threats, lack of security, and administrative inaction, leaving their cultural initiative—and an investment of nearly a million taka—in ruins.
Temporary Cinema Setup for Eid
With no permanent cinema halls in Tangail, local cultural activists Kamruzzaman Saifull and Saju Mehedi rented an auditorium owned by the district council for a month to screen ‘Tandav’ during Eid-ul-Azha. Despite securing all necessary permissions and investing over Tk 900,000 in advance payments, promotions, ticket printing, and logistics, their efforts collapsed under pressure.
Religious Opposition and Protests
A day before Eid, mosques and madrasas in Parki Union used loudspeakers to demand a boycott of the film. Posters and banners were torn down, and a protest march was organized by the ‘Parki Union Olama Parishad’, calling for the screenings to stop. Organizers allege that threats intensified afterward, spreading fear among locals.
Authorities’ Inaction
The organizers filed a written request for police protection before Eid but claim no action was taken. Even the district administration reportedly ignored their pleas, citing Eid holidays. “We ensured all legal formalities, but practical support was absent,” said Saifull.
Shutdown Under Duress
Despite a modest turnout of 20-25 viewers on the first day, local clerics submitted a petition with mass signatures to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) demanding the screenings stop. Organizers say they were barred from advertising, had their microphones confiscated, and faced threats of being confined inside the auditorium.
Saifull, labeled a “non-believer” and “apostate,” was personally harassed. Eventually, he removed the banners himself, canceled the screenings, and fled the area under cover of darkness.
Administration’s Response
Safiqul Islam, CEO of Tangail District Council, stated that the auditorium was leased based on intelligence reports, with a clause allowing shutdowns if public order was disrupted. Kalihati Police Station OC Zakir Hossain claimed he had no authority to intervene, while UNO Khairul Islam was reportedly on leave.
Cultural Groups Condemn the Incident
Bangladesh Film Reform Roadmap, a cultural organization, condemned the shutdown as an attack on pluralism and artistic freedom. In a statement, they called it “unconstitutional and illegal” to halt a government-approved film through mob pressure. They demanded legal action against those responsible and state protection for cultural activities.
This incident underscores the growing threat to artistic expression and rule of law in Bangladesh, where mob pressure overrides constitutional rights.
Publication Date: 11 June, 2025
Reports published in various newspapers on this issue: itvbd, banglatribune, samakal, dhakapost, jagonews24, ajkerpatrika, prothomalo
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