Take action against obstructors of cultural practices

Since the July mass uprising, various obstacles have been hindering cultural activities in the country. Many Baul music sessions have been shut down, and even stage plays at Dhaka and Chittagong Shilpakala Academies have been halted. Annual cultural events in local neighborhoods are also facing various forms of obstruction. As a result, the cultural environment of the country has fallen into a state of stagnation, causing concern within the cultural community. People in the cultural sector are expressing that any disruption to cultural activities will not bring about positive outcomes. If artists' activities and cultural events continue to face such hindrances, it will severely damage the native arts and culture. This could also lead to the spread of harmful cultural influences. Therefore, the government must take immediate action in this regard.

According to media reports on Monday (February 17), several cultural organizations have expressed their concerns through various statements. The ‘Actors’ Guild of Bangladesh’ issued a statement, expressing that the division among artists caused by the ongoing protests has only been exacerbated by the recent disruptions to their activities and cultural events. They further stated that obstructing such activities means disrupting the normal course of life. Similar comments have been made by the Directors Guild. They stated that "there is no free space for theater practice."

Artists have stated that they are used to performing theater in a free environment, but that environment no longer exists. We cannot fathom that there is a culture-friendly government in the country. If there were, festivals wouldn't have been shut down. We were forced to cancel the Dhaka Metropolitan Theater Festival, despite asking for the government’s support, which we didn’t receive. Such incidents are happening all across the country. Wherever cultural activities are being attempted, efforts are being made to shut them down. We feel helpless. We have no platform to seek justice.

According to available information, the 14-day 'Dhaka Metropolitan Theater Festival' was suspended on Saturday due to threats. On the same day, despite having permission, the Railway authorities canceled the Spring Festival at Sirishtala in Chattogram's CRB midway. Previously, the Lalon Memorial Festival in Madhupur, Tangail, was also canceled. On Friday, flowers were thrown out of a shop in Bhuapur, and a Kite Festival was stopped. On January 25, the inauguration of actress Pori Moni’s cosmetics shop in Elenga was canceled. Actress Apu Biswas could not attend an event in Kamrangirchar, Dhaka. Prior to this, there were attacks and vandalism during a Qawwali event in Mymensingh. After August 5, at least 80 shrines and dargahs across the country were attacked, looted, and set on fire.

In such a situation, artists, writers, and cultural figures have every reason to feel alarmed. It has been reported that an atmosphere of fear has spread even within the book fair. Among these incidents, a publishing house has been shut down due to interference from the ‘Touhidi Janata’ (religious group). On Sunday, at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair, two stalls selling sanitary napkins were shut down by the Bangla Academy. The situation appears to be one where everyone is slowly becoming captive to the ‘mob’. The administration is becoming lenient out of fear of the mob, but this is no way for a country to function.

In any country, there will be people with diverse opinions and paths. A diverse cultural environment is essential. Creating barriers to these cultural activities will not bring any benefit to the country. It will only further diminish our position on the international stage. Therefore, we urge the government to play a proper role in removing obstacles to cultural activities. If barriers to cultural expression persist, Bangladesh will fall behind at every step. This must not be allowed to happen.