Cultural activists on Saturday expressed solidarity with students’ one-point demand and demanded justice for those killed in July protests in Bangladesh.
Theatre troupe Prachyanat organised a performance art procession titled ‘Silent Screams’ from Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy to Fuller Road of Dhaka University demanding justice for the killing of students on Saturday.
Artistes brought out the procession from in front of the BSA main gate singing a song titled Lojjay Mathanata Sroshtha while carrying a large mask of a snake, symbolising the government, swallowing the dead bodies of protesters who were killed in the unrest centring the quota reforms movement.
Theatre activists Mohammad Bari, Azad Abul Kalam, Thandu Raihan, Julfikar Chanchal, Reza Arif, Shatabdi Wadud, Sahana Sumi, visual artist Sabyasachi Hazra, among others, participated in the procession.
‘We are observing that the government is killing innocent people, including students and carrying out wholesale arrests, torture and harassment of students and ordinary people across the country. The government is also spreading false information using the media and coercing the coordinators of the movement to give statements. We still have not seen any positive steps taken by the government to conduct a neutral investigation into the killings. This performance depicts our silent screams,’ said founder member of Prachyanat Kazi Toufikul Islam Emon.
‘Cultural activists are protesting against the government’s brutality during the students’ movement. We took to the streets with our theatre troupe because we cannot remain silent when unarmed students are fighting against law enforcement agencies. We don’t know how the police could shoot someone at point-blank range. We cannot accept the killing of our students,’ added Emon, who urged people from all walks of life to express solidarity with the students.
The procession declared solidarity with the protesters at the Central Shaheed Minar and ended after reaching Fuller Road.
Musicians expressed with students at an event titled ‘Get Up Stand Up’ at Rabindra Shorobor in Dhanmondi.
They also demanded the authorities to stop acts of violence, punish the murderers and sought justice for rapper Hannan who was recently arrested for his track ‘Awaaz Utha’.
Popular bands, including Miles, Souls, Warfaze, Shironamhin, Renaissance, Artcell, Cryptic Fate, Nemesis, Chirkutt, Meghdol, Ashes, Shonar Bangla Circus, AvoidRafa, Kaaktaal and Chirkutt participated in the event along with Prince Mahmud, Probar Ripon, Hamin Ahmed, Partha Barua, Shayan Chowdhury Arnob, Asif Akbar, Pantha Kanai, Elita Karim, Joy Shahriar and Armeen Musa, among others.
Later, they went to the Central Shaheed Minar and expressed solidarity with the protesters.
Bangladesh Short Film Forum demanded the release of detained students and the withdrawal of cases against them.
They also demanded the formation of an independent and impartial investigation commission to ensure justice for killing and vandalism during the student movement.
The statement was signed by its president Jahirul Islam and general secretary Rakibul Hasan on Friday.
