Political and cultural activists attending a protest programme on Monday slammed the government for arresting baul singer Abul Sarkar and attacks on bauls.
They condemned political parties鈥� silence regarding the issue.
The protest programme organised by Sadhuguru Bhakta O Oli-Aulia Ashekan Parishad in front of the National Press Club in the capital Dhaka demanded immediate and unconditional release of Abul Sarkar and ensuring his safety.
The event also demanded immediate action against the people who attacked bauls under the banner of 鈥楾awhidi Janata鈥� during a human chain formed in Manikganj demanding the release of Abul Sarkar on Sunday.
Earlier, on November 20, Abul Sarkar was detained by Detective Branch members from a music show in Madaripur and was later sent to jail on the same day in a case filed in Manikganj over allegations of hurting religious sentiments.
Poet and thinker Farhad Mazhar, renowned singer Aleya Begum, filmmaker Akram Khan, singer Kohinur Akter Golapi, cultural activists Shakira Parvin Suma, Dipanto Raihan, Bangladesh Supreme Party joint secretary general Md Ibrahim Mia, writer Arif Rahman, among others, spoke at the event moderated by Bhabboithoki coordinator Mohammad Romel.
Farhad Mazhar said that the citizen rights, dignity and freedom of expression were under threat under the interim government due to 鈥榬eligious fascism鈥�.
He also said that the government violated the citizen rights by arresting Abul Sarkar, adding 鈥榩olitical parties are silent on the issue for pleasuring voters but they will lose public involvement in the future.鈥�
Aleya Begum alleged that the police did not take any step against the attackers on bauls in Manikganj and did not file any case in this regard, rather they urged the victims to settle the issue while they were admitted at a hospital.
Akram Khan said that the government must abolish all laws which went against human rights.聽
Arif Rahman said that Abul Sarkar was the victim of misinformation because a vested group spread his fragmented speech.
After the protest, they handed over a memorandum to home adviser retired lieutenant general Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, demanding immediate release of Abul Sarkar and arrest of the attackers on bauls.
抖阴精品鈥檚 Dhaka University correspondent reported that some left leaning organisations under the banner of anti-fascist people on Monday evening brought out a torch procession and held a protest rally at the DU campus regarding the issue.
The procession began at about 7:00pm from the TSC area and marched through key points of Dhaka University and Shahbagh before ending in front of the Raju Memorial Sculpture.
Addressing the gathering, singer Shayan said that Bangladesh belongs to its people 鈥� Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Buddhists alike. 鈥楨veryone has the right to live with dignity as they are,鈥� she said.
Earlier in the evening, a group of students organised a cultural programme titled Pratibadi Baul Sandhya at the TSC鈥檚 Payera Chattar in protest against the recent attack on baul artistes.
The event, held at about 6:00pm, was initiated by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal Dhaka University unit leaders, with participation from members of various TSC-based organisations.
Regarding the issue, cultural affairs adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki on Monday wrote on his verified Facebook account, which triggered a social media backlash.
Many social media users said that Farooki tried to avoid his responsibility as cultural adviser in this connection.
