An inauguration programme, scheduled to be held at Tangail on Saturday where Porimoni supposed to attend, was called off in the wake of a series of protests reportedly staged by religious communities.
Earlier, the popular actress Porimoni had announced her plans to meet the residents during the grand opening of “Harlean Store,” an authentic retail cosmetics shop at Elenga Tin Market. However, the event has been postponed due to strong local opposition, reportedly from members of Hefazat-e-Islam and other religious groups.
The shop owner, Mir Masud Rana, confirmed the development to the media, stating, “Porimoni was supposed to attend the inauguration. However, there were some issues as Hefazat-e-Islam initiated protests and announced a sit-in programme, citing that her presence might cause problems. Discussions were held in mosques, and I even received a call from one of their leaders. Analysing the situation, the police advised us to postpone the event. Out of respect for sentiments of the religious communities, we decided to call off the inauguration programme after consulting with the company.”
Rana also lamented the financial loss incurred due to the cancellation. “We had been promoting the event for 10-12 days, including mike announcements across the area. This has dealt a significant blow to our business,” he said.
Locals reported that announcements of Porimoni’s visit had been circulating for about 15 days.
However, her presence did not sit well with members of Hefazat-e-Islam and devout Muslims in the area. Over the past few days, plans for protests and sit-ins to prevent her participation had been brewing.