Artists protest in the rain, demanding government resignation over student killings

Today (2nd August) in pouring rain, members of the ‘Artists Association Against Genocide and Oppression’ staged a protest at the Abahani Field stadium in Dhanmondi demanding the resignation of the government over the killings of students involved in the recent movements.

The protest, which was attended by media and theatre artists, was organised to condemn the ongoing repression against student activists and baseless arrests.

In a written statement, the artists expressed their collective duty to oppose injustice and state oppression.

“For many years, we have lost the right to vote and the right to speak out on important national issues. Freedom of expression has been stifled by repressive laws, and people have suffered social and state repression for speaking out against injustice,” the statement reads.

The protesters highlighted the escalation of the student-led quota reform movement, which they said had turned into a mass uprising. They condemned the brutal crackdown on the movement and said it was time for the arts community to raise its voice.

The artists also put forward three key demands: the immediate release of detained student activists and an end to mass arrests, the lifting of the curfew to restore public peace, and the restoration of the educational environment in educational institutions. They also called on the government to take responsibility for the student killings and step down.

Hero Alam stressed the desire for peaceful protests, stating, “We do not want violent movements, we want peaceful protests in which no mother’s heart is broken. We are victims of a tragic situation now. Many bodies have disappeared in the past without justice. We demand justice for those who were killed and for the government to stop this senseless violence.”

Addressing the government, Hero Alam asked, “Don’t you tremble when you shoot at students? We demand a fair trial for these killings. There have been countless bodies and disappearances without accountability. People are on the streets even in the rain, why do you think so? You are arresting students and ordinary citizens, that’s why we are here demanding justice.”

Theatre artist Tarin expressed her feelings of uncertainty, saying: “We live in constant fear and anxiety. We are looking for a solution and we want to live safely.”

Another theatre artist, Ashiq, called for resistance against government repression, saying: “We must stand up to such oppression.”

Despite the rain, writers, intellectuals, political figures, ordinary citizens and concerned parents took part in the protest.

BNP leader Rumeen Farhana also joined the protest, expressing solidarity with the student movement and emphasising her right to protest as a Bangladeshi citizen.

“The government has been ruling with an iron fist for 17 years, treating people like second-class citizens and turning this country into their personal fiefdom. We have all been made to feel like outsiders in our own country and I am here to protest against it,” Farhana said.

Responding to questions about the BNP’s involvement, she explained: “It is not a movement of any single party, it has become a people’s movement. The government’s tactic of banning Jamaat is a political strategy they have always used. If they really wanted to ban Jamaat, why didn’t they do it earlier?”

She also criticised the baseless arrests of BNP leaders, students and innocent citizens, pointing out that the government uses brutal methods against all forms of dissent.

Writer and activist Rahnuma Ahmed argued that the government’s “stupidity” had turned a peaceful student movement into a movement marred by violence.

“We are not informed of the truth, but we demand everything – how many people died, how many shots were fired by the police,” she said.

A parent at the protest, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed deep concern for the safety of his children, stating, “There is no safety anywhere in this country, not even in our homes. I heard a grieving father say, ‘I leave it to God’s justice.’ What else can we do? Where else can we seek justice?”

“As a mother of three, I understand the pain of losing a child. That’s why we stand here so that no other mother has to experience this loss and no one else is left childless,” she added.