Why were these bands not allowed to perform in Bangladesh?

Fans of mid-2000s Pakistani and Bollywood music are eagerly anticipating Jal's return to Dhaka after 14 years, with a performance scheduled for September 27. While this news is cause for celebration, it also serves as a reminder of the city's history of international performers, particularly bands, being unable to complete their performances.

The most recent cancellation, though driven by the unavoidable student protests and curfews, was the much-anticipated show by Pakistani legend Rahat Fateh Ali Khan on 20 July. Unfortunately, the event never took place, neither has there been news of a rescheduled date. 

But these recent incidents only scratch the surface of performances that never made it to the stage. 

Metalheads can probably remember the years 2016 to 2017, when the most anticipated concerts were called off. The authorities had only cited security concerns over the bands' scheduled concerts but in reality, the reasons were far more nuanced, and inappropriate to say the least.

It all started with the abrupt cancellation of Swiss folk metal band Eluveitie's concert just hours before they were set to perform at International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in 2016. Hundreds of disappointed fans vented their frustration at the event organiser, Green Events BD, over the last-minute decision to call off the much-anticipated 'An Evening with Eluveitie.' 

The organisers attributed the sudden cancellation to 'security concerns,' leaving many attendees disheartened. They assured ticket refunds as quickly as possible, reiterating this promise on their Facebook page. 

However, the explanation of "security concerns" didn't sit well with fans, especially since Bollywood singer Neha Kakkar had performed a sold-out show at the same venue just a week earlier.

Eluveitie also shared their disappointment over not being able to perform in Dhaka by posting a video on YouTube.

The following year, Brazilian death metal bands Krisiun and NervoChaos were prevented from performing at their sold-out concert scheduled for 9 May in Dhaka. The event, titled 'Metal Morgue', was supposed to be held at the TCB auditorium in Kawran Bazar as part of the bands' Asia tour, and it was also set to include performances by local bands. 

Although the organisers had secured the necessary approvals from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and had informed the Home Ministry to obtain security clearance, they were abruptly informed on 8 May that the concert would not proceed due to unspecified "security reasons." The police did not reveal the exact nature of these security concerns.

The bands were already en route to Bangladesh from Indonesia via Malaysia, arriving in Dhaka early on the morning of 9 May at around 1:30 AM. 

Upon arrival, the members of Krisiun and NervoChaos were detained at immigration, while their passports were confiscated, and were questioned about why they had come to Bangladesh despite their cancelled clearances prior to their arrival.

The organisers requested that the band members be allowed to stay in a hotel, leaving their equipment at the airport until their departure the next day. However, the police were reportedly concerned that the bands might attempt to perform using borrowed equipment. After a tense standoff lasting approximately 10 hours, the situation was eventually resolved with the intervention of the Brazilian embassy.

The then Immigration officer Mukit Hasan Khan had informed Prothom Alo that the band members had entered the country on tourist visas and lacked the necessary security clearance from the Home Ministry. In more recent years, Bangladesh experienced militant attacks targeting liberals, atheists, foreigners, and religious minorities, prompting a heightened security response, particularly after the July 2016 Holey Artisan attack. 

Some international media incorrectly reported that the band was detained under a 'blasphemy law," which does not exist in Bangladesh. The cancellation left local fans deeply disappointed. However, several prominent figures pointed out that the bands' music, known for its satanic and blasphemous lyrics, conflicts with cultural values and could potentially have a negative influence on the youth of Bangladesh.

Riasat Azmi, a lawyer specialising in entertainment law and a musician set to open for Krisiun with his band Severe Dementia, believes that the claims of "anti-cultural aspects" and "security concerns" were baseless. He asserts that the true reason for the cancellation was different.

Riasat, along with others closely involved with the event, suspects that certain administrative personnel were attempting to extort bribes. They believe that these officials intended to create obstacles for the concert unless their demands for money were met.

Soon after the incident, Krisiun took to Facebook and announced, "We had a very unpleasant experience, where we were victims of a great misunderstanding and experienced more than 10 hours of pure prejudice and misinformation.

As soon as we landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at dawn on 9 May, we were approached by security officers while we searched for our luggage. We had our passports withheld, without any explanation, in an extremely conservative country. The event was cancelled and the visas we obtained at the embassy of Bangladesh in Brazil (were) totally disregarded."

Ironically, on 9 May, the Home Ministry issued a 'no objection' certificate for the concert just before noon, on the condition that the bands would not perform any music that could offend religious sentiments. However, after the prolonged ordeal at the airport, the bands were in no position to go forward with the event, which had already been cancelled the previous day.