Published: 10:30 AM, 29 July 2026
Government moves to blacklist ‘Event Sajai’ over Atif Aslam concert chaos
The home ministry has asked the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to blacklist Event Sajai and take legal action against the organiser over alleged permit violations, mismanagement and security lapses at Pakistani singer Atif Aslam's concert in Dhaka.
In a letter sent to the cultural affairs secretary on Jul 26, the ministry said the organiser had changed the venue without prior approval, violating the conditions attached to the event permit.
Deputy Secretary Israt Jahan, who signed the letter, confirmed the directive to bdnews24.com.
The concert, titled "Main Stage featuring Atif Aslam", was held on Friday at Courtside on Madani Avenue in the capital's Bhatara.
It was organised by an event management company called Main Stage.
Permission for the concert, however, had been obtained by Event Sajai, an affiliate of Main Stage.
The concert was initially scheduled to be held at Cricketers Academy on the 300 Feet Road.
A day before the event, Main Stage Chief Executive Kazi Rafsan told a news conference that the venue had been changed because rain had made it impossible to build the stage at the original location.
The home ministry said the last-minute change breached the permit conditions.
According to the letter, Event Sajai had been granted permission to hold the cultural programme at Cricketers Academy.
It said the organiser changed the venue “without prior approval, triggering widespread disorder, raising concerns over law and order and prompting a strong backlash from concertgoers”.
