SHEIKH ARIF BULBON
The artistes who spent day after day
together on the shooting set, are facing
each other today. The relationship has gone
down so low that they are calling each
other’s names. Some are demanding justice.
From the beginning of the anti-discrimination
students’ movement, a clear division
of artistes has been noticed in both
online and offline mediums.
One party took to the streets in solidarity
with the students, while another party
spoke about the previous government.
Due to this division of artistes,
there is unrest in the media today.
Its stakeholders are planning to take
initiatives to overcome this instability
in the cultural arena.
Chairman of Federation of Television Professionals Organisation (FTPO) Mamunur Rashid and President of Actors’ Equity Bangladesh Ahsan Habib Nasim on Thursday said that they will try to bring back the working environment by discussing among themselves.
In the meantime, this distance between artistes has increased due to a WhatsApp group of pro-Awami artistes.
This WhatsApp group titled ‘Alo Ashbei,’ in which pro-Awami artistes and journalists joined, was opened under the leadership of the then Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad A Arafat and film actor Ferdous Ahmed to fight against the anti-discrimination students’ movement. Their position was against the students’ movement.
They give total, be that as it may, the movement must stop.
The direction of the activities of the artistes was given there. Not only that but also students who posted on social media, were seen sharing the screenshots in the group. Some have said to see them in the future.
There are many people including Sohana Saba, Jyotika Jyoti, Aruna Biswas, Riaz Ahmed, Suborna Mustafa, Azizul Hakim, Swagota, Badrul Anam Saud, Shomi Kaiser, Tanvin Sweety, Ashna Habib Bhabna, Shamima Tusty, Urmila Srabanti Kar, Saju Khadem, Hridi Haq, Fazlur Rahman Babu, Deepanwita Martin, Symon Sadik, Zayed Khan, Liaquat Ali Lucky, Nuna Afroz, and Rokeya Prachi in this group. Some screenshots of that group were leaked on September 3, which created a lot of discussion.
Ever since the chat of the ‘Alo Ashbei’ group went viral, several stars of the showbiz arena have been condemning the issue.
Director Mostafa Sarwar Farooki wrote, “It is surely painful that people who are direct instigators or silent supporters of genocide are walking around with the signatures of artistes of our country. Not only as an artiste but also as a human being, they are also low natured. If they born in 1971 and used to perform the duties of the Razakar. As a result, they can be called Razakars of this era. Surely they will be tried for the crime of supporting and inciting genocide.”
Film actress Pori Moni shared a news card of Aruna Biswas’s saying ‘You have to pour hot water on the students in the movement,’ “Inhuman! Brutal! Greedy! You can never carry the identity of an artiste with so much violence. Woe to you, Shit.”
Sharing the same card, film actress Mahiya Mahi wrote, “Inhuman.”
Meanwhile, sharing the screenshot of actor Milon Bhattacharya, small screen actress Sadia Ayman wrote, “Thank you, Dada, for introducing the ‘so-called popular actresses of the time’ like me to the human-looking, devil-clad artistes, who know what’s wrong, and knows how to tell the truth.”
Meanwhile, Fazlur Rahman Babu, who is in the list of ‘Alo Ashbei’ group, defended himself on Facebook and said that it is not right to blame anyone.
He wrote on Facebook, “I have some words about being added to Facebook’s ‘Alo Ashbei’ group, as long as the admin of a group has a phone number, he/she can add as many people as he/she wants to that group. There are many groups; no one can leave even if they want to. I’ve never entered the ‘Alo Ashbei’ group, so if I don’t look there, how will I know who’s writing there. It is not right to blame or criticise someone in a pouring manner.”
Actor Milon Bhattacharyya posted the defense and apology to actress Sadia Ayman. This actor told this correspondent, “I joined this ‘Alo Ashbei’ group because of various threats. I apologise to Sadia Ayman saying that it was not right to post her picture in that group.”
However, Milon Bhattacharyya later deleted that post.
“Those artistes should apologise on their own responsibility,” Mamunur Rashid
“Artistes did not show responsibility in that group. They have made such comments, which are unforgivable. I think these words are unintended from an artiste. ‘Pour hot water’ – this is not what an artiste can say. Those who have said these words, they have to take their responsibility. I am noticing a clear division between artistes, which is extremely painful. I do not understand how to solve this. I think, those artists should apologize on their own responsibility. However, these words should not create more division after such a long time, the screenshots that were leaked; the phone numbers of the actors were given. Because of this, many people are being harassed. That’s not right either.”
“I will decide what to do through discussion,” Ahsan Habib Nasim
“The screenshot of the group that has spread is not Facebook. Here anyone can add anyone. All those who have been added here have provoked or slandered the students that are not the case. It is important who played what role here. Many were added to the group, but they were not active. It is not fair to blame everyone for the few. After the screenshots were leaked, the divide between the artists became extreme. Because of this, the reputation of the Actors’ Equity has been damaged to some extent. No organisation can suffer because of individuals. We will discuss about this. The next major of the organisation will be decided through discussion. We will also sit in discussion with those who are talking about the reform of Actors’ Equity.”
“It is important to take initiatives to bridge the divide between artistes,” Tariq Anam Khan
“There may be differences of opinion between artistes. But division should not be created. Division and hatred among the people are not in a good place. This division of artists, speaking against each other – it is very important to take initiatives to eliminate these. We have already planning to discuss this matter. Another thing is that artists communicate with people’s minds and conscience. dramas, movies – no matter what you say, but one thing is established in everything, ‘Suppression of evil, observance of virtue’. But the point is this. But why artistes, the division or division within the country can be reduced, the better. After a mass movement, hopes and dreams have been created among all, it is true. At that time, why those artistes took the side of the government, only they can give the answer. Many people may have done this without knowing it. Talking to them will make the matter more clear. I find it difficult to believe that such killings were carried out during the movement. Recently I saw in a video, the way a van is lifting the dead bodies, it is a very heartbreaking scene.”