Speakers at a cultural programme on Saturday called for unity in diversity to establish a discrimination-free society in the country.
Ganatantrik Odhikar Committee, a platform working for democratic rights and freedom of expression, organised the programme titled Unity in Diversity at the Central Shaheed Minar.
Performers and speakers called for the unity in diversity through songs, music performances, dance recitals, street plays and speeches at the programme.
Ganatantrik Odhikar Committee member and former Jahangirnagar University professor Anu Muhammad said that Bangladesh was not a country of single language, religion, gender, race, caste and class, but rather a country of diversity.
The strength of society remains in the unity in diversity, but discrimination in the society affects the unity, said Anu Muhammad.
鈥榃e are against discriminatory politics, economics and culture,鈥� said Anu Muhammad, adding, 鈥榃e want a Bangladesh free from discrimination, repression, and dominatio.鈥�
He condemned local administration鈥檚 decision to cancel an annual two-day event to pay tribute to mystic and poet Fakir Lalon Shah in Narayanganj in the face of 鈥榯hreats from a religious group鈥�.
Mentioning the act as part of discriminatory culture and politics, Anu Muhammad said that a vested group was attacking all kinds of diversity in the name of religion.
Class discrimination is one of the main barriers in Bangladesh, said Anu Muhammad.
Mentioning interim government鈥檚 role in the recent protests of workers over wages and protests of battery-run rickshaw pullers over a ban on battery-run rickshaws as the violent attitudes towards labours like previous governments, Anu Muhammad said that people expected to get different treatment from this government.
He urged professor Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, formed after the fall of 15 years of Awami League regime following student-led mass uprising, to have discussions with labours and workers to solve the issues without forcing them.
National minority community singer Menthap Mro sang two songs in Mro language. One of the songs addresses the inseparable relationship between hill people and the hill while the other song invites people of all religion, races and caste to maintain harmonious relations.
Artist Akramul Hijra performed a dance recital addressing the existence of hijra people in society while theatre troupe BotTala performed a street play depicting different incidents happened during the student-led mass uprising.聽聽
The programme also featured Chakma songs, Qawwali songs, and musical performances of Baul songs.
National minority community leader Mikel Chakma and singer Arup Rahee, among others, spoke at the programme.
