The directorial venture of Elizabeth D Costa titled 35th July – Bangladesh’s Deadly Protest was screened at the ongoing 17th Bangladesh International Short and Independent Film Festival at the Poet Sufia Kamal Auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum in Dhaka on Monday.
Middle East-based news channel Al Jazeera is the executive producer of the documentary film. It follows a photojournalist, Jibon Ahmed, who captures images in the Students’ Movement Against Discrimination on August 4.
A discussion on the July-August student-led mass uprising titled The Dream, the Fight, the Victory was organised after the screening of the film.
Elizabeth D Costa, photojournalist Jibon Ahmed, information ministry reform search committee member Abu Bakar Wasif and martyr in the uprising Golam Nafiz’s father Golam Rahman spoke at the event.
Filmmaker Rafiqul Anowar Russell delivered a welcome speech at the discussion.
He said that the people of the country faced the distress due to past fascist government were not depicted in films. ‘Filmmakers should portray the contemporary issues.’
Abu Bakar Wasif said that cultural activists made a vital contribution in the July-August uprising. ‘But, we have not come across a good number of works about the uprising. I hope that artistes will focus on creating works to depict people’s aspirations.’
Elizabeth D Costa mentioned that she made the film during the uprising. ‘We wanted to portray how the unarmed students fought against the police and the Chhatra League.’
Golam Rahman said that the government should take responsibility for the proper treatment of the injured in the uprising. ‘I also urge the government to take steps to bring the killers to book.’
Adil Sakhawat is creative producer and Tareq Ahmed is line producer of the film, while Rahat Ahmed and Mohin are crew of the film.Â
