The highly anticipated concert featuring Bangladeshi rock icon James and Pakistani Sufi rock star Ali Azmat was abruptly postponed on Friday after police declined to grant final clearance for the event.
The show, titled ‘Legends Live in Dhaka’ and organised by Assen Communication, was scheduled to take place at a convention centre near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
However, Dhaka Metropolitan Police sources confirmed that permission was withheld due to security concerns in the airport’s Key Point Installation (KPI) zone, especially following a recent major fire incident in the area.
According to officials, hosting a large-scale concert in such a sensitive zone was deemed unsuitable at the moment. Organisers were reportedly advised to consider an alternative venue to ensure public safety and compliance with security protocols.
Assen Communication announced the postponement in an official statement, citing “unavoidable circumstances” and assuring that a new date and venue would be announced soon.
Ali Azmat arrived in Dhaka three days earlier for what would have been his first ever joint performance with James. The Pakistani star had expressed excitement in a television interview about sharing the stage with the celebrated Bangladeshi rockstar.
This is not the first time an Assen event has faced a last minute venue setback. In September last year, the company’s major concert titled ‘Legends of the Decade’ featuring Aurthohin, Vikings, Conclusion and Pakistan’s globally popular band Jal, was denied permission at Dhaka Arena on the Purbachal Expressway and was later relocated to Jamuna Future Park’s North Court.
