Cultural platform Ganatantrik Sanskritik Oikya on Saturday celebrated the first anniversary of a protest event they undertook to defy the curfew imposed by the ousted Awami League regime during the July uprising.
Former Protibadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangathonsomuha, a platform of 31 cultural organisations now renamed as Ganatantrik Sanskritik Oikya, took to the streets defying the curfew in protest at the killing of students and ordinary people as well as mass arrests made during the anti-quota student movement on July 26, 2024.聽
Marking the day, the platform organised a rally 鈥楪aner Michil鈥� (procession of songs) that marched from in front of the National Press Club ending at the Raju Memorial Sculpture.
The rally was followed by a discussion and cultural programme held on the Shoparjito Shadhinota premises at Dhaka University.聽
Cultural organisations, including Bangladesh Udichi Shipligoshthi, Charon Sanskritic Kendra, Bibartan Sangskritik Kendra, performed chorus songs, while poet Hasan Fakri and Kamruzzaman Bhuiyan recited their own poems.
Dhaka Drama member mime artist Abu Harun Tito performed a solo while Zamal Hossain performed solo songs at the event.
Convener of the Ganatantrik Sanskritik Oikya, Mafijur Rahman Laltu delivered welcome speech while Samaj Chinta Forum convener Kamal Hossain Badal, Pragati Lekhak Sangha treasurer Dinabandhu Das, Communist Party of Bangladesh central leader Abdullah Al Kafi Ratan, among others, spoke.聽
Mafijur Rahman Laltu urged all to raise question whether the interim government was able to reduce discriminations in its commitment to fulfil the aspirations of the uprising.
鈥楶oor people participated more (in the uprising) and aspired to bring changes because they suffered deeply in a system of discriminations. But they did not benefit after the uprising,鈥� said Laltu.
Dinabandhu Das said that no meaningful reforms were carried out, while the interim government were entering into many deals with foreign countries, which people would not approve of.
