Pori Moni, a popular actress known for her engaging public appearances, faced unexpected challenges that prevented her from attending an event in Tangail today. Despite days of promotion on Facebook, where the actress announced her plans to inaugurate the Tin Market showroom near the Elenga bus stand, the event took an unexpected turn due to objections from the National Ulama Mashayekh Aimma Parishad and Hefazat-e-Islam's Tangail and Kalihati branches.

According to Prothom Alo, sources reveal that the actress was scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of Herlan Store, a cosmetics shop in Tin Market, Elenga, at 3:00pm today, Saturday. However, due to resistance from certain groups, the event was postponed.

Herlan Store's proprietor, Mir Masud Rana, confirmed the matter to the media.

According to Mir Masud Rana, the inauguration featuring Pori Moni was scheduled for today, with all required administrative permissions secured. He explained, "We had been promoting the event for several days. However, on Thursday (January 23) night, a man named Shariful Islam called, informing us that they would not permit the event to proceed with Pori Moni."

"Early Friday (January 24) morning, Mufti Sulaiman, Mufti Suruzzaman, and 30 to 40 others called to threaten that they wouldn't let her attend. They even made indecent remarks about her. After Friday prayers, they announced plans to protest and stage a sit-in outside the showroom. Consequently, we were compelled to cancel the event. Still, many people turned up today, hoping to see Pori Moni," he added. 

Ahead of her planned visit, Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh's Tangail District Youth Affairs Secretary and National Ulama Mashayekh Aimma Parishad's Kalihati Upazila President, Mufti Sulaiman Habib, posted on Facebook on Friday (January 24). 

In his post, he wrote, "A film artiste (Pori Moni) was supposed to attend the inauguration of Herlan Store at Elenga Bus Stand. Following widespread negative discussions among devout people, local imams, scholars, and some concerned brothers informed me of the matter on Thursday (January 23) night. Subsequently, this Friday morning, along with local clerics, I spoke to Masud bhai, the showroom owner. Out of respect for everyone's sentiments, he contacted the higher authorities and confirmed that the event had been cancelled. We are grateful for his understanding."

The incident has sparked outrage across the showbiz industry, with many expressing their concerns on social media about such acts of extremism.

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Pori also wrote on social media, stating, "How can one remain so silent? It feels oppressive. Why should artistes face so many obstacles? I'm feeling insecure! Why are we not safe in such an independent country? Mehazabien, Porshi, and others have also faced such harassment before! What are they trying to prove under the guise of religion?"

"What more is there to say…should we just shut down cinema and entertainment in this country altogether then? So, should we assume that we were emotionally manipulated back then? Or are we being manipulated now? Which one is it? This responsibility falls on all of us to bear," the actress concluded.