Controversy rows over culture ministry grants distribution

The grant distribution of Ministry of Cultural Affairs for the 2025-26 fiscal year has created controversy in the cultural arena.

The theatre group ‘Aranyak’, which has been practicing theatre for more than five decades, received only Tk 36,500. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation, which has long been facing questions about the legitimacy of its leadership, received Tk 1.275 million. Theatre professionals, cultural organisers, and artistes have questioned the policy, evaluation process, and transparency of decision-making for this grant distribution.

They alleged that it is not clear what criteria have been followed in distributing state funds. Many active and traditional organisations have received nominal grants, while many organisations have been excluded from the list without any reason.

‘Aranyak’ and ‘Jatiya Kobita Parishad’ have already announced their rejection of the grant. Several organisations have demanded a reconsideration of the allocation.

At the same time, demands for transparency and accountability have been strong in the cultural arena.

State Minister for Culture Ali Newaz Mahmud Khayyam said that they have received various complaints regarding the distribution of grants. The matter will be reviewed seriously.

According to the list published by the Arts Branch of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, a total of Tk 14.614 crore has been given to 194 cultural organisations in Dhaka Metropolitan City and Dhaka District.

Of this, Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation received the highest amount of Tk 12.75 lakh. Bangladesh Dancers’ Association received Tk 12.35 lakh and Bangladesh Village Theatre received Tk 4.19 lakh. International Theatre Institute (ITI) Bangladesh and Radharman Cultural Research Centre received Tk 150 thousand each.

A large portion of the country’s leading theatre groups received grants of less than Tk one lakh. Several groups including ‘Desh Natok’, ‘Swapnadal’, Bangladesh Theatre, and ‘Natyatirtha’ received Tk one lakh 19 thousand each. Several organisations including Dhaka Padatik received Tk 59 thousand. Around 37 organisations including Theatre Art Unit and Jago Art Centre received Tk 69 thousand each.

The most discussed was the allocation of only Tk 36 thousand 500 each for 62 cultural organisations including ‘Aranyak’. The Aranyak Theatre Group, which has been regularly performing theatre since 1972, has written a letter to the State Minister for Culture expressing its inability to accept the grant.

In the letter, founder Mamunur Rashid and chief editor Harun Rashid wrote that a group that has played an important role in the national theatre movement for more than five decades has been relegated to the ranks of a new organisation and given a nominal grant, which is inconsistent with their contribution.
In the letter, ‘Aranyak’ said that state grants are not just financial assistance. They also reflect the state’s appreciation for art and culture.

Therefore, they demanded a review of the grant-giving policy, evaluation process, and criteria. Drama director Mohammad Ali Haider said, “A group like ‘Aranyak’ received only Tk 36 thousand. However, many groups without activities received grants of more than Tk one lakh. Many groups that have no activities in the past one year also received grants. How did they get grants is the question.”

Not only the low grants, many cultural organisations have been left out of the allocation list. The Bangladesh Gonosangeet Samannay Parishad alleged that at least 17 cultural organisations, including their organisation, have been left out of the list without giving any reason.

General Secretary of the Parishad Manzar Chowdhury Sweet said, “I think not only ours, but more than a hundred organisations across the country have not received grants this time. No written explanation has been given as to why they were left out.”

The organisations that did not receive the grant include Bangladesh Gonosangeet Samannay Parishad, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpi Gosthi, Satyen Sen Shilpi Gosthi, Mohakal Natya Sampradaya, Uthon, Nrityangan, Mirpur Cultural Academy, Rongdhonu Shilpi Sangha, Swatyik Natya Sampradaya, Kabyo Borshon and several other organisations.

Mohammad Bari, head of the Anuswar theatre group, said that despite staging 12 plays in six years, their names are not on the grant list. He called the allocation unfair and demanded a review of the list.

The 44-year-old Sahitya Academy in Brahmanbaria, outside Dhaka, also did not receive a grant this time. A new controversy has also arisen over the grant of Tk 1.275 lakh given to the Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation.

Former chairman of the federation, Mamunur Rashid, complained in a letter to the State Minister for Culture on June 25 that a party was running the organisation’s activities ignoring the constitutional process. As a result, there are questions about the legitimacy of the current leadership.

In this situation, he called for ensuring transparency and accountability in receiving and spending government grants. He also demanded an investigation into allegations of irregularities in the distribution of grants and a reassessment of the allocation.

The National Poetry Council has also announced its rejection of this year’s grant.

The organisation’s president, Mohon Raihan, said that a traditional organisation established in 1987 under the leadership of Sufia Kamal, Shamsur Rahman, Syed Shamsul Haque, Mahadev Saha and Faiz Ahmed was given only Tk 36,500, which is insulting.