What was set to be one of last year’s most anticipated music events, X Force Presents Atif Aslam at the Main Stage Show Powered by Foodi, was abruptly cancelled on Thursday night at the Bangladesh–China Friendship Exhibition Centre in Purbachal.
The popular Pakistani singer himself broke the news on his official Facebook page, confirming the cancellation to his millions of followers.
The cancellation left not only fans disappointed but also the artists and production teams severely affected. Popular Bangladeshi composer-singer-music director Fuad Almuqtadir, who was scheduled to perform, expressed his frustration on Facebook, as well as the concert’s other performing band Nemesis.
The fallout reflects a growing crisis in Dhaka’s live music scene, where multiple large-scale events have been called off in recent months, leaving organisers and artists facing uncertainty.
Adding a legal dimension to the controversy, Dhaka-based lawyer Ahsan Bhuiyan announced filing a suit against Main Stage Inc and its co-founder Kazi Rafsun for selling tickets without the required government approvals. “This is clear consumer fraud and misrepresentation,” Bhuiyan wrote on Facebook, urging affected ticket holders to keep their payment records for potential claims.
Main Stage Inc responded on Friday, stating that refunds would soon be available for those who wish to claim them. The organisers said a structured refund process is being developed to ensure transparency and fairness, with full details to be shared on their official Facebook page.
A senior official from the Home Ministry’s security division, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that, due to the current political climate, no concert approvals have been issued for nearly six weeks. “Several recent applications were rejected,” the official said, adding that prior to this period, 10–12 approvals had been granted for other events.
The situation highlights a recurring pattern: major concerts in Dhaka face cancellations during winter, typically the peak season, due to security and regulatory hurdles. Last week, Pakistani band Kaavish’s Wave Fest: Feel the Winter also had to be postponed despite all preparations, underscoring the difficulties faced by organisers in securing clearances.
With fans, artists, and stakeholders all affected, the city’s live music industry now faces mounting uncertainty, prompting calls for clearer guidelines and faster approval processes to prevent future disruptions.
