Desh Natok’s much-praised and popular play, “Nityapuran,” was in its 127th performance, on Saturday evening.
After approximately 25 minutes of the performance, Shilpakala Academy Director General Dr Syed Jamil Ahmed appeared on stage, politely asking for the show to be halted.
Such an incident has rarely occurred in recent memory, yet it unfolded on Saturday evening, at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, the nation’s cultural epicenter.
He expressed his helplessness, apologized, and said: "I tried hard, I fought until now. I’m ashamed and ask for your forgiveness. If the play continues, an angry crowd might set the place on fire, and the situation could become more dangerous.”
Desh Natok’s “Nityapuran,” a classic by Masum Reza woven around a mythical tale, now marks a controversial moment in history—some even say Dr Syed Jamil Ahmed’s name has also joined the pages of history, albeit in a negative sense.
Moving from history to the present, what led to the abrupt suspension of the play?
For those who have watched it, the play is not centered on religious or political issues; it’s a mythical love story with no possible clash with any part of the state.
Then why did such an incident occur?
Shortly before the performance began at Shilpakala’s National Theatre, a group of youths under the banner of Anti-Discrimination Students and People gathered at the main gate, preventing audience members from entering.
They began protesting, saying that Desh Natok’s director, Ehsanul Aziz Babu, had spread anti-state propaganda on Facebook and shared satirical cartoons of the current head of government and other advisers, labeling them traitors.
The protestors demanded that Ehsanul Aziz Babu be expelled from the group within 24 hours and face disciplinary action.
They also warned Shilpakala Academy against allotting performance halls to such groups.
Amid continued protests, restricted audience access, and calls for justice, Desh Natok’s team leader, Kamal Ahmed, met with the protestors, assuring them that Ehsanul Aziz Babu would be expelled within three days.
The protestors temporarily agreed, insisting, however, that the day’s performance be canceled.
They then hung a protest banner at the National Theatre’s entrance.
In an attempt to calm tensions, Shilpakala’s DG Syed Jamil Ahmed joined the conversation, trying in various ways to reason with the protestors, but their demand to cancel the ongoing performance persisted.
Ultimately, to prevent violence, the DG had no choice but to halt the performance.
This incident sparked widespread reactions on social media, with a video of Syed Jamil Ahmed's apology going viral, where he shared his struggle and fear of a fire threat.
In response, prominent Desh Natok member Naznin Hasan Chumki said: "A theatre involves a collective theatrical activity by many people. Yet, today, it felt like theatre has become individualized."