Uttara’s Spring Festival Canceled Amid Obstructions. Despite obtaining proper permissions from the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and the Metropolitan Police, the National Spring Festival Celebration Committee was unable to hold the Spring Festival in Uttara.
Uttara’s Spring Festival Canceled: According to a source from the organizing committee, they attempted to negotiate with those obstructing the event even late at night. One of the organizers was labeled as an associate of the Awami League, and despite removing that individual from involvement, the festival was ultimately canceled.
As in previous years, the festival was scheduled to take place at Bakultala of Dhaka University’s Faculty of Fine Arts, Bahadur Shah Park in Old Dhaka, and an open stage in Uttara. While the events at Bakultala and Bahadur Shah Park proceeded smoothly on Friday morning, the Uttara event had to be canceled.
Organizers Speak Out
Manzar Chowdhury Sweet, General Secretary of the National Spring Festival Celebration Committee, said:
“We followed the rules and applied to Dhaka North City Corporation, which granted us permission. We even paid the venue rental fees. The police also gave their approval. However, due to local opposition, we were unable to hold the event today.”
It was reported that the obstruction was led by an individual named Imon Rahman Farhad. When contacted, Imon identified himself as the Turag Thana spokesperson for the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and claimed that since the fall of the Awami League government, the Uttara Youth Welfare Association has been responsible for maintaining the open stage in Uttara.
He stated, “The representative of this festival in Uttara is an associate of the Awami League.” However, when asked for the person’s name, Imon replied, “I don’t know the name.”
Another reason for the opposition, according to Imon, was that the organizers did not use the correct name of the stage on their banners.
“Since August 5, we have renamed this stage as ‘Mir Mughdo Mancha.’ However, the Spring Festival organizers continue to refer to it as the ‘Open Stage.’ We have been maintaining this stage for the past seven months.”
When asked whether the Dhaka North City Corporation had officially recognized the name “Mir Mughdo Mancha,” Imon replied, “We informed the City Corporation. An official has inspected the site, and it will be renamed.”
Official Permission Contradicts Claims
However, the permission letter issued by the City Corporation to the Spring Festival Committee clearly states:
“The open stage near Rabindra Sarani in Sector 3 of Uttara, owned by the City Corporation, is allocated for the Spring Festival.”
When asked what official role he held regarding the stage, Imon responded, “Not just me, we are the ones maintaining the stage now.”
Meanwhile, Sarwar Tushar, Joint Convener of the National Citizens’ Committee, stated, “We are not yet aware of this matter. We will look into it.”
