Nora Fatehi’s Dhaka show cancelled again

Bollywood superstar Nora Fatehi has been denied permission to perform at the Global Achievers (Women Entrepreneurship Award Show) again. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs issued a notice yesterday (17 October) citing the global dollar crisis and austerity measures as the reason behind the decision.

The ministry is discouraging bringing foreign artists for performances in Bangladesh due to the dollar price hike.

According to the notification, Bollywood actor Nora Fatehi cannot be permitted to participate in the show arranged by Women Leadership Corporation to be held on November 18 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in the capital.

Earlier in September, her visit was cancelled at Mirror Group’s private award ceremony for the same reason.

The confusion began when organisers confirmed that Bollywood superstar Nora Fatehi will perform in Dhaka after a press conference. The event was hosted by Women Leadership Corporation Founder Maria Mrittika Sharna and Mirror Group Managing Director Shahjahan Bhuiyan at a hotel in the capital on Saturday evening.

The two Bangladeshi organisers announced to bring of the Bollywood starlet on stage in Dhaka. Firstly, Mirror Group had to cancel as they did not get government clearance stating the country’s ongoing US dollar crisis. On the other hand, Nora announced attending another event organised by Women Leadership Corporation in Dhaka.

Later on, Shahjahan Bhuiyan, the Managing Director of Mirror Group, sent Nora Fatehi a legal notice via email and to her Mumbai residence through a Bangladesh Supreme Court lawyer. The legal notice stated that she returns the Rs15 lakh she was paid in advance to perform in an award show organised by Mirror magazine in December and, secondly, not perform in any other show in Dhaka until she returns the Rs15 lakh.

Both organisers, later on, came to an understanding and jointly hosted the press conference on Saturday. They told the press that the misunderstanding that was caused by Nora Fatehi’s visit to Bangladesh has been resolved. They also clarified that there were no more complications with her visit to Dhaka.

However, the latest notification from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs has changed the organisers plans again.