Theatre activists on Monday protested against the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy’s decision of stopping the Desh Natok production Nityapuran’s show for security concerns.
They also said that this was not a good sign for cultural practice of the country.
Bikshubddha Theatrekarmigan placed a 6-point demand to the BSA at the protest rally at the main gate of National Theatre of the BSA.
Theatre activist Mohammad Ali Haider read the demands at the protest.
The demands are, including the BSA should organise the postponed show within a week, the army must be withdrawn from the BSA premise, the BSA open their premise with all auditorium and galleries for cultural activist and audiences, reduce the dependency of bureaucrats in the BSA executive committee, and stop nepotism in allocating auditorium for theatre troupes.
Theatre activist Azad Abul Kalam, playwright-director Masum Reza, Saidur Rahman Lipon, Samina Luthfa, Kamaluddin Kabir, among others, spoke at the protest.
Masum Reza said that the BSA director general Syed Jamil Ahmed tried to manage the protesters but failed because they did not know about the DG. ‘Because, they were not involved in cultural practice. I request the BSA to investigate the incident and take legal action.’
Theatre troupes work in a democratic way, and contain all political parties supporters, said Samina Luthfa.
‘BSA should open for cultural activists and stop nepotism in allocating theatre auditoriums and rehearsal rooms,’ said Samina Luthfa.
Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi and Theatre Artists Association of Dhaka also expressed concern regarding the show of Nityapuran.
