Theatre troupe Prachyanat stages a street play titled Morol Policing at a cultural protest programme organised by Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi in front of the Bangladesh National Museum at Shahbagh, Dhaka on Wednesday. — Sourav Laskar
Different cultural organisations and activists on Wednesday protested at sectarian violence against religious minorities and demanded immediate release of Jhumon Das, who was arrested under a controversial Digital Security Act case filed against him for reportedly criticising the provocative and sectarian speech of Islamist leader Mamunul Haque.
They also demanded that the government must repeal the Digital Security Act, 2018.
They raised the demands at a protest rally organised by Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi in front of the Bangladesh National Museum in Dhaka.
They also sang songs, recited poems and staged street plays at the event, which was presided over by Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi general secretary Jamshed Anwar Tapan and anchored by its assistant general secretary Sangeeta Imam.
‘Jhumon Das was arrested and landed in jail in a controversial DSA case filed against him over a Facebook post. He could not get bail even after applying seven times. Houses of Hindus at Sulla in Sunamganj were vandalised in a sectarian attack. The attackers were later granted bail. Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi has called for countrywide demonstrations to protest at sectarian violence against religious minorities. We also demand immediate release of Jhumon Das, repeal of the DSA and justice for victims of sectarian violence,’ said Jamshed Anwar Tapan.
Theatre troupe Prachyanat staged its production Morol Policing, BotTola staged a play titled Rater Rani, written and directed by Kazi Roksana Ruma, and Theatre Bayanno staged Ekti Shahoshi Phul Dekha Jai, written and directed by Mizanur Rahman, while artistes of Charon Sanskritik Kendra, Wrishiz Shilpigosthi and Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi sang songs and recited poems.
Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi general secretary Iqbalul Rahman, central committee member Ekram Hossain, vice-president Bimal Majumder, Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council presidium member Kajal Debnath and Jashore University of Science and Technology teacher Ovinu Kibria Islam, among others, spoke at the programme.
Ekram Hossain said, ‘It is unfortunate that Jhumon has been held behind bars for around six months over a Facebook post and his bail appeal was rejected seven times.’
Iqbalul Rahman said that not only Jhumon but also many journalists and writers have fallen victims to the DSA. He also demanded the repeal of DSA.
Jhumon Das’s wife Sweety Chandra Das and his son were also present at the programme.
Supreme Court lawyer Imtiaz Mahmud, Bangladesh Students’ Union vice-president Anik Roy and Socialist Students’ Front general secretary Nasir Uddin Prince, among others, attended the event while Nari Samhati, human rights activist Sultana Kamal and others expressed solidarity with the protesters.
Besides, around 20 units of Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi organised protest programmes at different places across the country, namely, Sunamganj, Chattogram, Jashore, Barishal, Thakurgaon and others.
