Brazilian Bands: Cultural affairs ministry didn't give approval

The cultural affairs ministry in a rejoinder to a report headlined “Brazilian Band: Nine artistes detained at airport”, published in The Daily Star on May 11, said it didn't give permission to the organiser to hold a programme in Dhaka featuring the musicians. 

It said organiser of the show Elephant Communication applied to the ministry to hold the event, but the ministry didn't give permission as the organiser didn't fulfil the conditions such as having home ministry's opinion and no objection letter from the National Board of Revenue.

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The foreign musicians did not collect visas as artistes following proper procedure, and it was learnt that they came to Dhaka on tourist visa. The cultural affairs ministry had no link with the matter, said the ministry.

The Daily Star report mentioned that the organisers had taken permission from the ministry and other authorities, as Saimum Hasan Nahian of Raptor, one of the organisers of the event, claimed that they had the permission.

Nine artistes of Brazilian death metal bands Krisiun and Nervochaos were allegedly detained at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for several hours early Tuesday after they arrived on tourist visa.

They were scheduled to perform at the “Metal Morgue” concert in the city later that day.