Questions Raised Over Cultural Grants
A scene from Aranyak’s audience-acclaimed play ‘Rarhang,’ based on the Santal Rebellion. Active in the theater arena for more than five decades, Aranyak has received a grant of Tk 36,500 this year.
The grants provided by the Ministry of Culture for the current fiscal year have sparked intense dissatisfaction in cultural circles, raising numerous questions. This year, the country’s pioneering theatre troupe Aranyak received only Tk 36,500, causing widespread surprise. Similarly, despite ongoing controversy over the leadership of the Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation, the organization was allocated Tk 12,75,000 in grants.
Cultural activists are demanding to know, on what policy and evaluation process were these grants distributed? Who prepared this list? They are calling for transparency, accountability, and clear criteria in the distribution of state grants.
State Minister for Culture Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam confirmed to Agamir Somoy that he has received several complaints regarding the matter.
Stating that these complaints will be reviewed seriously, the minister said, “We took office in the middle of the fiscal year. As a result, in many cases, we could not break away from previous continuity. There are some shortcomings, and we will review them. We will try to ensure that grants are distributed in a more transparent and acceptable manner in the next fiscal year. We will also seek advice from the country’s cultural personalities on this matter.”
Who Got How Much
In the 2025-26 fiscal year, a total of Tk 1,46,14,000 was distributed among 194 cultural organizations in Dhaka metropolis and districts. Among them, Bangladesh Nrittyashilpi Sangstha received Tk 12,35,000. Bangladesh Gram Theatre received Tk 4,19,000.
Additionally, the International Theatre Institute, Bangladesh (ITI) received Tk 1,50,000. Aranyak along with 62 cultural organizations received Tk 36,500 each. Bivartan Cultural Center along with 15 organizations received Tk 40,000 each. Deshnatak, Swapnadal, Bangladesh Theatre, and Natyateertha along with 9 theatre troupes received Tk 1,19,000 each. Dhaka Padatik along with 9 organizations received Tk 59,000 each. Theatre Art Unit, Jago Art Center along with 37 organizations received Tk 69,000 each. Additionally, two troupes received Tk 99,000, five troupes received Tk 94,000, five troupes received Tk 80,000, seven troupes received Tk 79,000, and ten troupes received Tk 89,000 each in grants.
Allegations of Omission from the List
The Bangladesh Ganasangeet Samanway Parishad has alleged that at least 17 cultural organizations across the country, including itself, were excluded from government grants this year. No reasons were provided. Yet these organizations regularly conduct cultural activities.
Parishad General Secretary Manzar Chowdhury Sweet expressed anger, telling Agamir Somoy, “Many active cultural organizations have been left out of this year’s grant list.” He believes at least a hundred organizations across the country did not receive grants this year. No written explanation was given either.
According to the preliminary list published by the Ganasangeet Samanway Parishad, the excluded organizations include: Bangladesh Ganasangeet Samanway Parishad, Mirpur Sanskritik Academy, Barsha Utsab Udjapon Parishad, Satyen Sen Shilpigoshthi, Ujan, Panchabhaskar, Mahakal Natyasampradaya, Uthon, Bhorer Pakhi Nrityakala Kendra, Nrityangan, Drishtyakavya, Jhangkar Lolita Kala Academy, Adi Dhaka Sanskritik Jot, Rangdhanu Shilpi Sangha, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi, Swatik Natya Sampradaya, and Kavya Borshan.
Frustrated Theatre Activists
Aranyak Natyadal has been regularly practicing theatre since 1972, after independence. They have been receiving government grants for a long time under the Ministry of Culture’s ‘Grants to Cultural Institutions’ program.
Theatre director Mohammad Ali Haider commented, “I was astonished to see the Ministry of Culture’s grant list. A troupe like Aranyak received only Tk 36,500. Yet many inactive troupes received over Tk 100,000. Our troupe’s Bot-tola grant has also been reduced compared to last year. I don’t know why. Have our activities decreased? Many troupes that had no activities in the past year also received grants. The question is, how did they get grants?”
Mohammad Bari, head of theatre troupe ‘Anuswar’, said, “In the 6 years since Anuswar was established, we have staged 12 plays. We have established a studio. It is a troupe that stages the maximum number of plays per year on average. Yet Anuswar’s name is not on the Ministry of Culture’s annual grant allocation list. I want to know on what basis the troupe was excluded from the allocation list.” He demanded the cancellation of this unjust allocation list and the proper use of public funds based on correct policies and transparency.
Theatre Factory, another troupe, did not receive grants this year. Alok Basu, head of the troupe, sought an end to this discrimination in a Facebook post. He said, “Mistakes can happen. But clinging to mistakes or deliberately making mistakes never brings good.”
Meanwhile, the Theatre Artists Association of Dhaka (TAD) was also not given annual grants this year. Protesting this, the organization called for a reconsideration of the allocation. In a statement, TAD said, “As an organization dedicated to the welfare of theatre artists in Dhaka, we applied for grants according to the rules. But regrettably, we did not receive any allocation.”
TAD started its journey in November 2024. The organization claims that since its inception, it has been playing an important role in protecting the rights of theatre artists in Dhaka, conducting welfare activities, and providing educational support to members’ children. Excluding such an organization from the grant list is not only disappointing but also amounts to undervaluing the contributions of theatre artists.
Aranyak’s Rejection
Expressing dissatisfaction over the grant allocation, Aranyak’s Chief Editor Harun Rashid and Founder Mamunur Rashid have written to State Minister for Culture Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyem. They have expressed their inability to accept the allocation.
In the letter, Aranyak said, “As a leading and regularly theatre-practicing organization in the country, Aranyak is naturally an important claimant of state patronage. But with great surprise and disappointment, we have observed that for the 2025–26 fiscal year, only Tk 36,500 has been allocated as a grant for Aranyak Natyadal. This allocation is not only inadequate but also completely inconsistent with Aranyak’s over five decades of cultural contribution, consistent activities, and unique role in the national theatre movement. Effectively, this grant has been fixed by placing Aranyak in the category of new theatre troupes. Even more surprising is that many organizations irregular in theatre practice have received over Tk 100,000 in grants, while such a meager allocation for one of the country’s oldest and most active theatre troupes is highly questionable.”
The letter also raised questions about the grant policy. It stated, “State cultural patronage is not just financial assistance; it is a reflection of the state’s valuation and recognition of arts and culture. From that perspective, this year’s allocation does not reflect the proper valuation of Aranyak Natyadal. Therefore, we respectfully express our inability to accept this grant. At the same time, we demand a reconsideration of whether the grant policy, evaluation process, and set criteria have been properly followed. In the interest of transparency, accountability, and fair evaluation in the cultural arena, a necessary review of this matter is extremely urgent.”
Sahitya Academy Also Did Not Receive Grant
Not just in the capital, but cultural organizations outside Dhaka have also allegedly been deprived of grants. Sahitya Academy has been leading cultural practice in Brahmanbaria for over four decades. In previous years as well, the organization received Tk 59,000 in grants. However, this year they were excluded for unknown reasons.
Nurul Amin, General Secretary of the organization, told Agamir Somoy, “We were on the grant list last year as well. We want to know why we were not included this time. The grant money is not very large, but this money from the state is a form of recognition. That is why receiving it is important.”
Questions Over Federation’s Grant
Theatre personality and former Chairman of the Federation Mamunur Rashid sent a letter to State Minister for Culture Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyem on June 25, demanding the legitimacy of the Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation’s leadership, resolution of organizational crises, and transparency in government grant distribution. A copy of the letter has been obtained by Agamir Somoy.
In the letter, he alleged that a faction is running the organization’s activities ignoring the Federation’s constitutional processes. As a result, questions have arisen over the legitimacy of the current leadership. In this context, he called for ensuring transparency and accountability in the receipt, management, and expenditure of the government grant of Tk 12,75,000 given to the Federation. He also demanded investigation into irregularities in grant distribution among various cultural organizations and re-evaluation of allocations.
