DU fine arts faculty suspends ‘Sharot Utsab’ amid objections, fears of unrest

The Faculty of Fine Arts at Dhaka University has suspended the annual ‘Sharot Utsab’ organised by Satyen Sen Shilpigosthi, citing objections and concerns about potential unrest.

However, the event has not been cancelled, said Dean Professor Azharul Islam.

He told a local daily that the decision came after “many objections and warnings of possible trouble” were received. “Some callers claimed we were allowing ‘collaborators of fascism’ to hold an event,” he said, adding that a meeting will be held to decide on a new date.

The cultural group has celebrated the autumn festival under the Bokultola for 19 years. General Secretary Manzar Chowdhury stated that the group had completed all preparations before the suspension. “We only celebrate nature — this has no political link,” he said, calling the decision a “bad signal globally.”