Cultural freedom under threat: Rumeen
Brahmanbaria-2 lawmaker Barrister Rumeen Farhana has strongly criticised the cancellation of planned screenings of the film Bonolota Express in Brahmanbaria, saying no group should be allowed to suppress the district’s cultural identity.
She made the remarks on Monday afternoon while addressing a human chain at the First Gate area of Shahbazpur union in Sarail upazila, beside the Dhaka-Sylhet highway.
Referring to recent incidents of attacks on shrines and other acts of intolerance, Rumeen said Bangladesh has historically been a land of religious and cultural coexistence.
“We have heard both the Azaan and Baul songs in this land,” she said. “Who wants to turn Bangladesh into a land of fundamentalism?”
The BNP lawmaker said Brahmanbaria has long been known as one of the country’s major cultural centres, and that identity must not be weakened by pressure from any particular group.
She said a state that fails to protect children from violence and abuse should not encourage actions that restrict cultural practices or push younger generations away from creativity and free thought.
“Brahmanbaria is known as the cultural capital of Bangladesh. This identity must not be erased,” she said.
Rumeen also referred to the Liberation War of 1971 and the 2024 Mass Uprising, saying no political party or group should try to claim ownership over mass movements that belong to the people.
The human chain was attended by local cultural activists, leaders of socio-political organisations and residents. Leaders and activists from Udichi’s Brahmanbaria district unit, Chhatra Union, Workers Party, National Citizen Party and several cultural groups also expressed solidarity with the programme.
A large number of police personnel were deployed in and around the venue during the demonstration.
The protest was organised after screenings of Bonolota Express were cancelled at Annada Government High School in Brahmanbaria town and later at Taltola Government Primary School field in Kasba upazila on Saturday.
The cancellations have sparked debate on social media and among cultural activists in the district.
