Bangladesh is seeing a growing number of major events featuring foreign artistes, with organisers spending large sums and offering various facilities to bring them to the country. At the same time, many talented local artistes are becoming frustrated after failing to get enough shows. Former Warfaze guitarist Oni Hasan has now spoken about the contrasting treatment.
Recently, several organisers sought to bring artistes and bands from Pakistan and India to Bangladesh for large fees. Some events took place, while others were cancelled. Several organisers had also planned concerts featuring Pakistani artistes today and tomorrow, with Bangladeshi artistes also scheduled to perform, but those events were postponed at the last minute.
Oni Hasan questioned the trend on social media, asking why the money spent on foreign artistes could not instead fund major concerts or quality productions featuring local talent.
“Organisers can spend crores of taka to bring foreign artistes. Yet talented local artistes are gradually becoming frustrated and discouraged because they do not get enough shows. What do we gain by promoting and giving such opportunities to artistes from outside?” he wrote.
He added, “Can we not invest that money in good productions, major concerts or quality events featuring local artistes? This would give them opportunities to work on a larger scale and enrich the country’s music scene.”
Oni began his musical career as a guitarist at 18. He initially played with Vibe before joining Warfaze after the band broke up. He left Bangladesh for higher studies in 2011 and now lives in China, where he has settled after marriage. He last appeared on a Dhaka stage with Warfaze around a decade ago.
