Arundhati’s Dhaka talk stopped by police

Police have cancelled their permission to stage the much-publicised talk by renowned Indian writer Arundhati Roy, scheduled to be held Tuesday evening at Krishibid Institute Auditorium due to ‘unavoidable circumstances’.

“We were informed late at night by Dhaka Metropolitan Police that the permission granted, regarding our application (16 February 2019) to hold Arundhati Roy’s talk on 5 March at Krishibid Institute Auditorium, has been withdrawn due to ‘unavoidable circumstances’,” said secretariat of Chobi Mela in the press statement.

The writer of ‘The God of Small Things’ came to Bangladesh for the first time on 3 March following an invitation from Chobi Mela.

The press statement also said Chobi Mela authorities had taken a lot of preparations for organising this event.

“We are extremely shocked at this decision, and know how upsetting it must be for all of you who were looking forward to the first-ever visit to Bangladesh of this celebrated writer,” it added.