Anti-people artistes shed tears for dictators: Selima
Staff Reporter :
Many cultural activists have united and are shedding tears for fallen dictators, said BNP Standing Committee member and former minister Selima Rahman.
She said, “Did you not see or do not know that this dictatorial Awami League has killed my fellow students, has killed the people of this country? They had locked up our leaders and activists inside Aynaghar and tortured them. Why would you now shed tears for them again?”
She made these remarks on Tuesday in front of the National Press Club at a human chain organized by Bangladesh Nationalist Social and Cultural Organization (JASAS) protesting against “cultural fascists.”
Selima Rahman said, “Those who are crying for the Awami League – what kind of artistes are you? You worked only to build your own wealth. But the real truth of society, the beautiful reflection of society, the democratic journey of society – none of these did you uphold.”
She added, “On August 5th, when the mass uprising took place, students, youths, workers, the people – men, women, even children – everyone took to the streets. There was grief in every heart. On that day our children were killed, my fellow students were killed, murdered. That crime belongs to your authoritarian government. Because of the uprising, they were forced to flee. But you still cannot forget, you keep conspiring.”
The former minister said, “This Bangladesh became independent through the proclamation of independence by martyred President Ziaur Rahman. He not only declared it but also fought in the battlefield, and gifted this country its freedom.
Begum Khaleda Zia, trapped in the clutches of that authoritarian government, has been forced to struggle with death for 18 long years through false cases. Yet she has never compromised. She has always said: the people of this country are my children; if I die, I will die here in this country. Even today she is fighting for democracy. She could have compromised long ago and sat in power, but she never did. Today she is suffering from various illnesses. Now we have our acting chairman Tarique Rahman before us. He has united the people of Bangladesh and has led the movement to success. The movement has triumphed, the dictatorial government has fled, the fallen regime has escaped, the monstrous regime was forced to run away.”
Addressing the artistes, she said, “Be alert. You are artistes, you practice art. Wherever you are active in your field, through your practice the life, the image, the picture, and the voice of the people of this country must return. To those artists in society who protest – I want to say: always stand up against injustice. That protest must be for the people, for their rights, for democracy.”
At the program, JASAS Joint Convener and lyricist Ethun Babu announced, “If all fascists are not removed from Shilpakala to the Secretariat within 21 days, we will launch tougher protest programs.”
Cultural activist Shiba Shanus, along with members of the acting, theatre, and film fraternity, were also present at the human chain.