A good number of bands and musicians of the country have boycotted the ‘Joy Bangla Concert’ in solidarity with student protests.
Band troupes including Nemesis, Meghdol, Popeye Bangladesh, Cryptic Fate, Arbovirus and Avoid Rafa who performed in previous editions of Joy Bangla Concert organise by Centre for Research and Information and Young Bangla since 2015 to commemorate the historic March 7 speech of the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Besides, Shironamhin and Dreek, who have not performed yet on this platform also declared that they will never perform even if they get an invitation. Their statements also emphasized support for the ongoing movement.
Bangla Five’s vocalist Sina Hasan was the first to voice his stance.
On July 17, he announced on his verified Facebook profile, ‘As an artist, I boycott the Joy Bangla Concert. May I never be invited as an artist or audience to this concert, and if the other members of my band don’t agree, I won’t hesitate to leave Bangla Five, even though I doubt my bandmates will.’
Band troupe Avoid Rafa also declares their withdrawal at the band’s official Facebook page.
A member of Avoid Rafa Rais Al Deen confirmed that they withdrew from the Joy Bangla Concert.Â
Until August 1, at least 214 people were killed in student protests for quota reform in government jobs which had started on July 1.
