What’s next for Naveed’s comedy club?

If you've been even remotely tuned in to Dhaka's comedy scene on social media lately, chances are you've seen the posts—Naveed's Comedy Club (NCC) is shutting down…or so it seemed.

While a few shows were cheekily labelled, "the last ever NCC show," it turns out that wasn't quite the case. The club isn't closing its doors for good—it's just moving to a new spot.

Still, the move marks the end of a pretty significant chapter. This venue in particular became a key player in building one of the most active and exciting phases of Bangladeshi comedy. A lot happened within those walls.

To get the full picture of what's next, we caught up with Naveed Mahbub himself.

"It's something we knew all along," said comedian and NCC founder Naveed Mahbub. "When we took the property, we knew it would eventually be handed over to developers. It could have happened any day—but we got four good years."

The venue, a rare find in Dhaka, stood on 26 kathas of land—an open, ground-floor space in a city where such spaces are increasingly devoured by high-rises. 

"It was very ideal," Naveed recalled. "Big, conveniently located, open space—in Dhaka, it's very difficult to get a place like this. Even if you do, you just know that it'll be taken in by developers."

Sure, they always knew this day would come, but actually dealing with it is a whole different story. That said, Naveed's been actively scouting for a new venue, and while he's keeping the specifics under wraps for now, he did hint that they've found a potential new home. He's cautiously optimistic about it becoming NCC's base for the next few years.

NCC has built a reputation for being more than just a place to catch a few laughs—it's a full experience. So naturally, there's a lot more to consider before locking anything in.

"We have found a new spot," Mahbub shared, though he remained tight-lipped on the exact location. "Ideally, we want something like what we have now—open space, ground floor. We found a few places, but they didn't work out. One place is similar and very close by, but it's a lot more expensive. It's a financial crunch, but when push comes to shove, we'll go there."

Relocating isn't just about shifting the mic stands and stage lights—it's about transplanting an entire ecosystem. Their community includes food partners, staff, performers, and fans. "We have to ensure that they're comfortable going there and that it's financially sustainable for them, too," Mahbub emphasised. 

While venue logistics—acoustics, location, ambience—matter, Mahbub is quick to point out that the real soul of a comedy club isn't the physical space, but the people in it. "At the end of the day, a comedy club is just a venue. It doesn't matter unless you have good comedians and a good audience. It all boils down to how hard the comedians are willing to work."

And that, he stressed, is where the focus must remain. "More comics need to come in. For that, we need a platform. We have to continue the momentum. We cannot afford to shut down simply because we lack options."

Since its founding in 2010, NCC has seen more than one home. "This is our third venue," Mahbub recounted. "We started in March 2010, in Baridhara. It was very much a New York-style comedy club in a basement. Fifty people, cramped seating—that's how we wanted it. We ran that for a few years."

The club later moved to a larger space in Banani, hosting over 200 people. "But we were shut down," he said. "We lost a lot of money." A nomadic period followed, with NCC doing shows across various venues. Then came Chef's Table, where they finally had a dedicated room one night a week, and only after all these, did they land on the venue they have been calling home for the past four years.

"This place, of all the venues we've had, was the most special," Mahbub admitted. "I would be a robot if I said I won't miss it."

Over the years, NCC has hosted countless local shows and even brought in international acts. The footfall increased, and more people started hanging out—not just for laughs, but for community.

"This has been a journey of over 15 years," Mahbub reflected. "And the scene has grown so much. We were having more shows, more regulars, more excitement."

As NCC enters its next chapter, one thing is certain—the curtain might fall on a venue, but not on the laughter.