Fan outrage intensified yesterday after Atif Aslam announced that his much-anticipated Dhaka concert had been cancelled. Until his statement, Main Stage Inc, the organisers of "X Force Presents Atif Aslam at Main Stage Show Powered by Foodi" continued urging fans to buy tickets, repeatedly posting reminders such as "Final 4 Hours Left" and "Last 60 Minutes" before ticket sales closed.
Even after the cancellation became public, the organisers claimed that the show had merely been 'postponed' due to the upcoming national elections and said a new date would be announced in the first half of 2026. They assured that all purchased tickets would remain valid—yet they did not issue refunds.
Amid the backlash, Barrister-at-law Ahsan Habib Bhuiyan has served a legal notice to Main Stage Inc and its co-founder Kazi Rafsun, accusing them of selling tickets without securing mandatory government permissions.
Bhuiyan said that the organisers failed to obtain required approvals, yet continued aggressive ticket promotions "until the last hour." He described their conduct as "clear consumer fraud and misrepresentation," adding that he has demanded a refund for his own purchases and is considering escalating the matter to consumer rights and cybercrime authorities.
The Daily Star has obtained a copy of the legal notice, in which Bhuiyan accuses the organisers of scamming audiences. He purchased five tickets for the concert scheduled for December 13, and provided the booking number along with details of the designated ticketing authority, Chologhuri.
In the notice, he demands:A full refund within seven days. A formal public apology, to be published on all official platforms within 48 hours, acknowledging that:Tickets were sold without lawful authority. Last-minute promotional posts were made despite lacking approvals. The event failed due to the organisers' inability to secure government clearance.
He has also demanded a written confirmation that the refund has been processed and the apology issued.
Bhuiyan also raised concerns over the organisers' irregular business history, noting drastic changes in the identity and nature of their Facebook page over time—including involvement in unrelated sectors such as furnishings, agro-products, bakery operations, and lifestyle goods. Such abrupt shifts, he stated, raise serious questions about their transparency and credibility.
He further alleged that the organisers' actions constitute fraudulent business practices, misrepresentation, cheating, and unauthorised commercial activity under the Penal Code, Cyber Security Act, Consumer Rights Protection Act, and other applicable laws. Selling tickets without permission—while continuing to promote the event despite knowing it could not proceed—amounted to intentional deception and caused financial loss to consumers, he said.
The notice concludes with a warning that failure to comply within the stipulated time will result in civil and criminal proceedings: "All costs, liabilities, and consequences shall rest solely upon you."
