Bangladesh blocks Pakistani singer’s Atif Aslam’s concert during Victory Month

DHAKA: Pakistani singer Atif Aslam has cancelled his concert in Dhaka after failing to obtain permission from the interim government of Bangladesh in the victory month of December. The celebration marks the surrender of the Pakistan Army after a bloody 9-month war in December 1971.

Pakistani singer Atif Aslam had earlier announced that he would perform in a concert in Dhaka on December 13. However, there appeared to be security concerns after the Pakistani singer’s concert in the month of Bangladesh’s victory faced criticism.

“We are sad to announce that we are not performing in the concert in Dhaka which was scheduled for 13th Dec 2025. It is because the promoters & management of the concert could not sort the required local permissions, security clearances and logistics”, Atif Aslam wrote on a facebook post.

@itsaadee’s much-awaited Dhaka concert, “X Force presents Atif Aslam at Main Stage,” has been cancelled. The singer confirmed the news on his official Facebook page, leaving fans disappointed. #atifaslam #dhaka #Bangladesh pic.twitter.com/JEUzfB7aAQ

— Jasmine (@sharmajasmine01) December 12, 2025

Bangladesh is preparing to celebrate the great Victory Day on December 16 with detailed programmes. The world will witness the largest flag parachuting event to celebrate Bangladesh’s 54th anniversary of independence. On Victory Day, the Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force will conduct separate fly-past exercises at the old airport in Tejgaon, Dhaka, from 11 am, Chief Adviser Press Wing said.

A special Victory Day band show will be held. From 11.40 am, 54 paratroopers of “Team Bangladesh” will parachutist with flags in their hands to celebrate the 54th anniversary of independence, it added.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh is set to hold its national election on February 12, 2026, marking a significant shift in the country’s political landscape. This will be the first national election since the student-led uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.

The interim administration, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has been governing the country since then. A national referendum on the “July Charter” will also be held on the same day, proposing significant reforms to state institutions, including curbing executive powers and strengthening judicial independence. Voting will be held simultaneously for all 300 parliamentary seats. (ANI)