Bangladesh’s growing appetite for live music has exposed a major gap in the country’s cultural infrastructure: the lack of dedicated venues for large concerts.
Hamin Ahmed, president of the Bangladesh Musical Bands Association (BAMBA), believes the time has come to establish permanent concert venues in both parts of Dhaka.
Hamin said the absence of suitable locations has contributed to uncertainty surrounding open-air concerts.
Events have recently been postponed over security clearance issues, cancelled because organisers could not manage large crowds, or moved to different venues without proper authorisation. Such incidents, he warned, could affect the future of live music in the country.
He believes Dhaka North and Dhaka South should each have a permanent concert venue where performances could take place regularly, even every day. Designed along the lines of stadiums, these spaces should have sufficient entry and exit gates, proper crowd-control facilities and comprehensive security arrangements.
At present, organisers often depend on temporary locations such as open fields or roadside spaces, where permissions and logistical arrangements remain uncertain.
Hamin argued that just as cricket and football have dedicated stadiums, the music industry also needs purpose-built venues capable of accommodating thousands of spectators.
He said BAMBA could take responsibility for managing such facilities if the government or relevant authorities provided suitable land.
The venues, he stressed, should remain open to all bands and solo artistes rather than being controlled by any particular organisation or group.
Hamin also called for stronger coordination between concert organisers and law enforcement agencies.
Police should provide clear security guidelines when granting permission, including the number and placement of security personnel, audience entry and exit arrangements, and emergency procedures.
He suggested involving members of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party alongside the police to strengthen security at large events.
Given the pressure on police personnel to perform duties across different locations, he believes Ansar members could help improve crowd management.
The BAMBA president also proposed making registration compulsory for organisations arranging large, ticketed concerts.
Their experience, staffing, management capacity and ability to ensure public safety should be assessed before they receive permission to organise major events. He urged the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to take the initiative, with organisers also registering with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC).
Hamin said the strong turnout at concerts should not automatically be treated as a problem. Rather, the growing interest in band music reflects a cultural demand that needs proper infrastructure and planning.
He described the absence of a permanent music venue more than 55 years after independence as a matter of embarrassment for the country.
While Bangladesh has stadiums for major sporting events in several cities, he said, it still lacks comparable facilities for live music.
He urged the government to consider establishing dedicated concert venues, improving security arrangements and bringing professional organisers under a formal registration system. Concerts, he said, are not merely entertainment events but an important part of the country’s cultural life.
