The resignation of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy director general Syed Jamil Ahmed triggered a huge controversy on social media as he brought allegations of administrative interference and bureaucratic obstacles created by the cultural affairs ministry.
His post also prompted cultural activists to ask questions regarding the administrative boundaries for the ministry in its oversight of Shilpakala Academy.
An official of the academy said that Syed Jamil Ahmed did not attend his office on Saturday following his resignation.
Cultural affairs adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki on Saturday refuted the allegations levelled against him by Syed Jamil Ahmed as reasons for his resignation as director general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, saying that they were not true.聽
On his verified Facebook account Farooki wrote that much of what Jamil Ahmed said was not full truth and much of it was 鈥榓bsolute lies鈥� while some might have been related with frustration borne out of his inability to deal with situations.聽
He also said that being a good artist and leading an institution with confidence are distinctly different skills.
Farooki also said that he did not want to talk about dramatic resignation but he would give a brief for record.
Earlier on Friday, Shilpakala Academy director general Syed Jamil Ahmed announced his resignation from his post.
Syed Jamil Ahmed in a statement issued at midnight past Friday described the reasons for his resignation.
鈥業 have resigned as director general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy due to the unwanted interference from the adviser and ministry; complications created by bureaucratic red-tapism; creating obstruction by selecting the academy鈥檚 secretary as the 鈥榝ocal person鈥� for the director general in carrying out his duties within his jurisdiction; budget cuts; causing files to disappear from inside the academy;聽 causing disruption to the academy鈥檚 work environment by instigating its officials; and malicious activities of the corrupt circles at the academy,鈥� read the statement.聽聽聽
He also alleged that the cultural adviser pressured to give him money without any written correspondence.
Syed Jamil Ahmed, founder of the department of theatre and music in Dhaka University and former honorary professor of department of theatre and performance studies, took charge of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on September 10, 2024 after Liaquat Ali Lucky had resigned.