No telecast of Ityadi and Ananda Mela this Eid Ul-Fitr

This year would have marked the 32^nd telecast of the popular Bangladeshi magazine television show - Ittyadi. The program is created by Hanif Sanket, the one man army who also hosts the show.

Ityadi has recognized many of the singers and actors of Bangladesh through its platform. Over the three decades, the program gained popularity for its quality content and unique presentation. BTV airs a new episode of the magazine show every three months.

A special episode of Ityadi is broadcast on the second day of Eid al-Fitr every year which has become a TV staple and tradition in the last three decades. However, due to the outbreak of the global pandemic coronavirus, this long reigning record and tradition of 32 years has been broken.

Although the crew started shooting for this year's Eid special episode early, as they always do, the shooting had to be packed up due to the countrywide shutdown.

"We always plan something grand for Eid Ul-Fitr. Every year, we have used the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur for the shooting. It's sad that we are unable to do so this year. For the first time in 31 years we are unable to do anything for Eid. This is a new experience for us as well," said Hanif Sanket.

While speaking to The Business Standard, he said that they had already worked with a few foreigners, as they start shooting long before the episode is due for telecasts, according to the script. The Ityadi crew had communicated with a few other artists as well.

But, all of a sudden, global lockdown and a national shutdown was imposed which caused the foreign members to fly back to their countries and shooting was halted.

"Shooting the program involves a lot of people. It involves the audience, artists and technical crew. It is not possible to shoot the program when physical distancing is required for our safety" Sanket added.

Sanket, however, said that shooting will resume in new spirits once the shutdown is lifted.

"I hope we will overcome the crisis and everything will go back to normal," Sanket said hopefully.

No telecast of Anandamela

BTV's own production Ananda mela is usually broadcasted on the first day of Eid Ul-Fitr. Officials told The Business Standard that the show is as old as the channel itself.

Anandamela is another magazine program that is designed with performances of musicals, dancing, singing and parody shorts.

This year, however, the shooting could not be held due to the shutdown, hence the break in telecasting the decades old show, the general manager of BTV Nasir Mahmud told the correspondent.

"We record the program in the BTV studio. It includes a lot of people. This is why we suspended shooting this year" he added.

However, there is a possibility of Ananda Mela to re-telecast at least three older episodes.

"So far we have been told that there will be no telecast this year. It is a state-owned television channel and we can get directions at the eleventh hour. So we cannot outright say that there will be nothing at all this year," Nasir informed.