Theatre activists demand autonomy for Shilpakala

Entertainment Report :

A procession calling for the prompt reinstatement of eminent theatre personality Syed Jamil Ahmed as Shilpakala Director General, led by theatre activists and cultural figures under the banner of ‘Bikkhubdo Shikharthee-Shilpi-Nagorik Somaj’, took place yesterday at 3:00pm at the gates of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) in the capital.

The rally, which brought together theatre artistes, writers, directors, designers, and cultural activists, came in the wake of the controversial resignation of Syed Jamil Ahmed, the BSA’s former director general.

The procession aims to voice a clear and urgent demand for not only the reinstatement of Syed Jamil Ahmed but also for the autonomy of Shilpakala Academy, free from bureaucratic interference.

Their rallying cry, with the slogan “Gonoobbhutaner Gono Akangkha, Amlatontrer Sathe Aposh Na” (People’s aspirations for a mass uprising, no compromise with bureaucracy), resonates across the cultural landscape, reflecting the widespread frustration with the governance of cultural institutions.

Speakers at the procession, comprised mainly of theatre artistes and university students, voiced their strong discontent over Cultural Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki’s critical remarks regarding Syed Jamil Ahmed’s ‘failure’ in fulfilling his duties as the director general of Shilpakala Academy.

They vehemently opposed Farooki’s allegations, views on budget allocation for the cultural sector, and his remarks on bureaucratic challenges and censorship.

Theatre activists argue that the current bureaucratic structure stifles creativity and limits the growth of the arts in Bangladesh, and they believe that an independent, self-governed Shilpakala Academy is crucial for nurturing the country’s vibrant cultural scene.