Information Minister Barrister Andaleeve Rahman has said recent cancellations of cultural events in Brahmanbaria and Kishoreganj should not be interpreted as the government taking an anti-cultural stance.
He said events could be suspended or cancelled if there were concerns over law and order or security at a particular location, but the government had no policy of obstructing cultural activities.
He made the comments while answering journalists' questions during a briefing at the Press Information Department on Tuesday.
Recently, cultural events in Brahmanbaria and Kishoreganj were reportedly cancelled following objections from some local religious scholars. Asked about the issue, he said some groups in Bangladesh had opposed certain cultural activities for the past 40 to 50 years.
“Regardless of religion or ethnicity, society will determine how people in Bangladesh live with their own culture. Some people may occasionally overreact. But the law will take its own course,” he said.
Journalists asked whether the government was cooperating with cultural events when police cancelled permission for a concert.
“The cancellation of a concert does not mean that the government is opposed to cultural activities,” the information minister said.
“There may have been a security-related issue or some other reason. The specific reason can be known by speaking to the relevant ministry or authority,” he said.
“Many major concerts and cultural events are still being held in the country,” he said.
