The festival should be held at any cost

The sixth Bengal Classical Music Festival 2017 is off. This piece of bad new was disclosed at a press conference organised by Bengal Foundation. Not only Dhaka music lovers but also music enthusiasts from across the world fervently await the month of November when the world's largest classical music festival is held. Over the years, the festival has left a lasting impact of our collective psyche and culture. Eminent cultural personalities, in instant reactions, shared their dismay at the cancellation of the event with The Daily Star. Excerpts:  

Asaduzzaman Noor, Cultural Affairs Minister

It is frustrating that the Bengal Classical Music Festival is not being held this year. The festival has so far greatly influenced our music and culture and set a world class taste among our artistes and music lovers. Finding an optional venue for such a prestigious festival has many concerns including the security. I am still optimistic that with the direct initiative of the Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, The festival may be held at a re-scheduled timing. 

Ferdousi Rahman, eminent singer

Of course it's heartbreaking news that the Bengal Classical Music Festival, which has set an example in the world, is not returning this year. The glory of our classical music was on the wane, when Bengal Foundation brought back that glory. Thousands of young audience would flock together every night and appreciate the proceedings onstage. My father would tell that it is to listen to classical music more than to render so that you can become a connoisseur to distinguish performance of any raga. I cannot even think that it is not being held this year. I am feeling sad. The government, especially the Prime Minister herself, should look into the matter. The festival has so far attained world class repute. The government should rather patronise this kind of initiative. A legacy of our own was being formed. At this stage it was cancelled.     

Alimur Rahman Khan, eminent classical music exponent

What Bengal Foundation has done over the years, is outstanding. They have made the impossible possible. Not only I, lakhs of music lovers will miss the festival this year and they are surely heartbroken to hear the news. I cannot specifically give my opinion regarding why this festival is not being held. But this should be held regularly for our own interest.

Rafiqun Nabi, eminent painter

Such a prestigious festival should not be stopped. For the last five years, I along with tens of thousands of classical music lovers eagerly wait for the month of November, as we are regulars at the festival. The Dhaka audience has the rare opportunity to listen to the pure form of music performed by world renowned maestros. Noted and promising Bangladeshi artistes too perform here. The festival brings like-minded people together. It's a large congregation of artists, musicians and music aficionados. There are many people like me who will be disheartened at the news. The festival is a milestone cultural event. This should be continued. There might have been technical difficulties; I don't exactly know. If there's any problem in getting the venue on schedule, the festival might be re-scheduled. It may be held in December. But anyhow and at any cost, the Bengal Classical Music Festival should be held. It's not easy to get Army stadium as the festival venue. And it is not mandatory to select Army Stadium as the festival venue. The organisers should look for other suitable venues while the government must provide proper security and other assistance like free movements of the artistes. I repeat. The festival must never be stopped!        

Ramendu Majumdar, eminent theatre and cultural activist

The cancellation is tragic. We wait all year around for this event. Since the inception of the Bengal Classical Music Festival, we have been able to attract thousands of Bangladeshis to something as pure as classical music. So many young children developed a taste for the beautiful genre and now all of us are collectively devastated. This programme took place even during politically volatile times in our country, so I don't know why it has been cancelled this time or why the venue isn't being given. It is just very distressing for all of us.

Dr Asit Roy, classical vocalist & Head of Music Department, Rajshahi University

The cancellation of the Bengal Classical Music Festival is dreadful and unfortunate. We have created history with this event across the continent. It was cherished by people from all over the world, and this programme had immense influence in the cultural arena of South Asia. Such a cancellation will definitely hamper our cultural progress. All of us, who wait every year for these five days of classical music, including the audience flying in from different parts of the world, are heartbroken.

Sharmila Banerjee, prominent Manipuri dancer and founder of Nrityanandan

The cancellation is devastating. This year was going to be a major achievement for many young artistes who were scheduled to do solo performances this year. To get a platform like Bengal Classical Music Festival, and then to lose it, is heartbreaking for all of us. We were going to recognise and cherish many of our own young artistes this year, who have all been preparing and working really hard for their performances.