London mission in disarray over British visa for performers

The press wing of Bangladesh High Commission in London, UK is in disarray over the arrival of four Bangladeshi performers to attend an event in London due to visa complexities. Invited by the high commission, the young artistes – Shwapnil Shojib, Samiul Islam Poluck, Nirjher Chowdhury and Aviroop Sharma – are set to perform at the prestigious Nehru Centre and the Brady Arts Centre on October 6 and October 9, respectively, which now seems uncertain, said an official. “We have furnished all documents and even, out of the way, given guarantee that the four would exit the UK after the shows, but so far there is no good news,” said Nadeem Qadir, press minister at the high commission. "We need the four [artistes] here by October 5 at the latest... it will be a great humiliation [if they are not here] as we have distributed invitation cards, banners and flyers for the shows,” he said. He further said if the performers did not reach London for the shows, the sponsors would pull out their funds. “Then who will bear the costs incurred so far?” The programme, titled Summit Evening of Young Bangladeshi Performers, is being sponsored mainly by Summit Communications Ltd, along with a few other sponsors based in London. Four British-Bangladeshi senior artistes will also perform at the shows. Such a programme has not been held in London for many years and this venture aims at showcasing Bangladeshi talents as well as present Bangladeshi culture to the British audience, an official at the high commission. Qadir said the British authorities asked for note verbale, but that is only issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – which has separately requested the British mission in Dhaka for the visas – to those with official or diplomatic passports. “It has taken several months of hard work to get the venues, the artistes and then the funds, and it is not costing the government a penny,” he added. “I hope good sense will prevail for greater bilateral ties and the Bangladeshi performers will be able to perform in London as per schedule.”