Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) has clarified that its programmes and exhibitions will resume from Sunday, December 21, following the conclusion of the state mourning, countering reports that suggested an indefinite shutdown of activities.
The national arts institution issued the clarification on Saturday after several online platforms and social media pages reported that all activities at Shilpakala had been closed for an unspecified period.
Academy officials described those reports as inaccurate and said they had caused unnecessary confusion among artists, audiences and cultural organisers.
According to the academy, all programmes and exhibitions were temporarily suspended from December 19 in response to the state mourning declared by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Saturday, December 20, following the death of Shaheed Sharif Osman Bin Hadi. The pause, the academy stressed, was never intended to signal a long-term closure.
In a statement shared through its official channels, Shilpakala said its earlier notice had been misinterpreted by parts of the media. The institution expressed regret over the circulation of what it termed misleading information, emphasising that the suspension was limited to the mourning period only.
With the national observance now ending, Shilpakala confirmed that its scheduled cultural activities will return to their regular calendar from Sunday. The academy hosts a wide range of theatre, music, dance and visual arts programmes, many of which had been left in uncertainty after the earlier reports.
Officials also called on visitors, supporters and media professionals to rely on verified announcements and to cooperate as the academy moves to restore normal operations. The clarification is expected to bring relief to artists and audiences who had feared a prolonged disruption to the country’s cultural life.
