A much-anticipated concert featuring popular Pakistani singer Mustafa Zahid was abruptly called off on Friday, sparking disappointment among fans and confusion among participating artists.
The concert, titled Melody Unleashed and organised by Melody & Mind Communication, was scheduled to take place Friday evening at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Purbachal.
However, just an hour before showtime, the organisers announced the event's postponement via a Facebook post, citing “security concerns” as the reason.
Zahid, who had recently arrived in Dhaka for the show, expressed his heartbreak and frustration in a statement posted on his official Facebook page late Friday night.
“It truly breaks my heart to share this… We’ve just been informed by the organisers that tonight’s show in Dhaka has been called off due to security concerns,” he wrote.
“To every single fan who bought a ticket, please know this: we landed in Dhaka last night, rehearsed with some talented local musicians until the early hours of the morning, and did everything in our power to give you an unforgettable experience.”
“Despite repeated miscommitments by the organisers, we still showed up because we didn’t want to let YOU down. We were ready. And we’ll be back—properly, and soon.”
The event was also set to feature local performers including singer AK Rahul and bands Level Five and Encore. However, confusion reigned as participating artists said they were unable to contact the organisers.
To make matters worse, officials at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center told several media outlets that there was no confirmed booking under Melody & Mind Communication’s name for Friday’s event. While the organisers had initially reached out, they reportedly failed to complete the payment process.
Frustrated fans who showed up at the venue found locked gates—there were no posters, no lighting, and no signs of a concert setup. Many attempted to contact the organisers, but the provided phone number was found switched off.
Band Level Five voiced their anger in a Facebook post, stating: "We regret to inform our fans that the Melody Unleashed show, featuring AK Rahul, Encore, and Mustafa Zahid, was marred by severe mismanagement and unprofessionalism from the organisers, Melody & Mind Communication. Despite our commitment, they failed to pay artists and vendors on time, lacked proper communication, and ultimately scammed the audience."
"We apologise to fans who were affected by this pathetic excuse of an organiser. We remain dedicated to providing quality experiences. Thank you for your continued support."
Tickets were sold in three categories: General (Tk 1,999), Melody Zone (Tk 3,499), and Premium (Tk 10,000).
This is not the first time Melody & Mind Communication has come under fire. In February, their Rock the Capital concert was also postponed, allegedly for “security reasons.” Many ticketholders from that event have reportedly still not received refunds.
Friday’s cancellation has drawn sharp criticism from Dhaka’s music community, with several artists calling the incident not only “embarrassing” but also “shameful.”
Despite the setback, Zahid reassured his Bangladeshi fans of a return, promising to come back “properly, and soon.”
Source: UNB
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
