Home
+
Published : 10 Dec 2025, 02:45 AM
Dhaka’s music lovers are learning the hard way that no ticket guarantees a show.
After a string of successful concerts last season, the current climate in the capital has taken a starkly different turn. “Political caution” has halted performances across the city, leaving foreign artists stranded and organisers grappling with financial setbacks.
While a few private concerts continue -- opportunists arranging private concerts using the artists from postponed shows -- the broader public faces repeated frustration, eroding trust and dimming the capital’s once-vibrant cultural scene.
The home ministry, citing “political circumstances”, has withheld approval for several scheduled performances, prompting a cascade of cancellations, leaving audiences in limbo over ticket refunds.
While Home Secretary Nasimul Ghani declined to comment, a senior official from the ministry’s Public Security Division, speaking anonymously, said: “At present, no concert permissions are being granted due to the country’s political situation. In the past few days, five to six applications have been rejected. It has been nearly one and a half months since approvals were issued. Prior to that, 10–12 approvals had been granted.”
He added, “Previously, applications used to come in regularly. Now, after news spread that permissions are being withheld, applications are fewer.”
Concerts typically peak during the winter months. Last season, a few events in January and February faced disruptions. Now, organisers are struggling to hold events after summer, facing administrative hurdles.
Last Friday, the Pakistani band Kaavish was prevented from performing their Wavefest: Feel this Winter concert despite arriving in Dhaka on Thursday morning.
PrimeWave Communications’ Managing Director Infitar Danial said that all preparations were complete.
He said, “Kaavish arrived in Dhaka, and we were determined to ensure the concert’s success. We followed multiple steps to obtain approval. Venue arrangements, artist fees -- all were settled. Yet, at the last moment, permission was denied, and we have no explanation.”
He said the administrative process for bringing foreign artists: paying fees, booking flights and hotels, arranging sound and light, paying taxes and VAT, submitting documentation to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, and then forwarding it to the home ministry. The approval passes through multiple administrative and security levels.
“After spending Tk 15 million on a single artist, we must still obtain permission. If approval is withheld, we are left powerless. The system depends entirely on administrative discretion. Approval often arrives at the last minute, forcing us to sell tickets in advance. Online sales in a few days are insufficient to fill a venue.”
Danial emphasised the broader impact: “Artists rehearse and prepare, only to be turned away. They feel disrespected. Ticket-holders lose trust in us. We lose credibility, and the effort invested in planning is wasted.”
Golam Morshed, a ticket-holder, said: “I purchased tickets for Kaavish, only to learn the day before that the concert would not happen. No explanation was given, and there’s no update on refunds. I’ve emailed and called but received no response. Compared to last year, this has been an extremely disappointing experience.”
RUSH OF CANCELLATIONS, NO REFUND INFORMATION
Earlier, on Nov 14, Pakistani artist Ali Azmat’s concert Legends Live in Dhaka was also cancelled. He had arrived in Dhaka three days prior, but organisers Assen Communications announced the cancellation on the morning of the event.
Their Facebook post said, “Due to ongoing instability, we are unable to ensure a safe and responsible environment for audiences, sponsors, partners, and ticket-holders. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and disappointment caused. Once the country’s situation stabilises and audience safety can be guaranteed, we will reschedule the concert.”
The post also promised, “Details on ticket refunds and future updates will be announced officially very soon.”
However, three weeks after the cancellation, no official statement relating to refunds has been issued.
Earlier in November, two concerts were also cancelled. On Nov 28, the Pakistani band Jal was scheduled to perform Sound of Soul at the 300-Foot Swadesh Arena in Dhaka, alongside local bands Warfaze and Level Five. Five days before the event, the organiser, Stage Co, announced that the government was not granting permission and that ticket refunds would be issued.
On Nov 30, a spectator named Anamika Rahman said she had still received no update regarding her refund. Another attendee, Sohel Arman, reported that he had yet to receive reimbursement for tickets purchased for Ali Azmat’s concert.
Contacted by Glitz, Sohel said: “I bought tickets for Ali Azmat’s concert via the ticketing platform Get Set Rock. After the cancellation, the platform emailed that a three-stage refund process would begin soon.
“First, information would be collected from official ticketing points and authorised booths, then tickets would be verified, and refunds processed via bKash or bank transfer.”
However, Sohel added: “I attempted to follow up through the platform’s WhatsApp number and email, but received no response and have not been refunded.”
Indian musician Anuv Jain’s performance, originally scheduled for Dec 12 at the 100ft Courtside, Madani Avenue, was also cancelled. The organiser, Hype Nation, announced the cancellation on Nov 25.
PRIVATE SHOWS
Amid these cancellations, Pakistani singer Atif Aslam was scheduled to perform at a Main Stage concert on Dec 13.
Asked whether the concert would proceed, Main Stage owner Nisha Salam said: “A portion of our concert proceeds will go to families affected by public protests. Since this is a charity concert, there is no reason for permission to be withheld. We have completed all necessary approval procedures and remain hopeful we can hold the event successfully.”
She also revealed that some artists from the cancelled concerts have performed in “private concerts” before or after the original dates.
“The day before Ali Azmat’s public concert was cancelled, he performed a private show at Dhaka’s Bashundhara ICCB. That day, Jal’s concert was postponed, and they performed a private concert at Gulshan Club. Even Pakistani singer Farhan Saeed has performed at a wedding in Chattogram.”
Regarding the authorities, Nisha questioned: “Is the government only facilitating entertainment for the influential and wealthy, while cancelling concerts for the general public under the pretext of security?
“We are bringing artists according to the rules, paying VAT and taxes, yet we cannot understand the reason for this inequality.”
She added that last-minute cancellations harm organisers’ reputation as well as finances.
“Organisers bear the brunt of last-minute cancellations because all payments have already been made. Financial losses aside, the country’s image suffers if foreign artists leave abruptly. Furthermore, the entertainment sector itself faces increasing contraction.”
ALARM RAISED BY ARTISTS
Artists who were scheduled to perform alongside foreign musicians have also expressed concerns over repeated cancellations and venue changes.
A local artist, who asked not to be named, said: “If a concert is cancelled or relocated for security reasons, why are other public gatherings subject to no such restrictions? We want to understand the reason for complications surrounding these concerts. Why is the administration treating concerts alone as a site of public gathering?”
A senior officer from the home ministry’s security division explained: “With elections approaching, the government wants to maintain law and order at all costs. This message has been communicated in different ways in recent weeks.
“If any untoward incident occurs at a concert, it could call law and order into question, and the government does not want to take that risk.”
Asked about allegations that private concerts with high fees are being approved while public ones are cancelled, the officer said: “We are not granting any permissions. How private shows are taking place, we have not been informed.”
On complaints about withheld ticket refunds, the officer added: “No such complaints have been received by our office.”
He also confirmed that the main stage concert scheduled for Dec 13 has been verbally denied permission.
