Allegations of Government Inaction, Nine Demands Including Resignation of Two Advisers

A protest rally titled “Resistance Journey of the Attacked and Anti-Fascist People” was held on Friday at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka, raising nine demands, including the resignation of two advisers and accusing the government of inaction in response to the arrest of Baul Abul Sorkar and attacks on various shrines and dargahs across the country.

In his speech as the chairperson of the rally, economist and social thinker Professor Anu Muhammad stated that there is an increasing trend of discriminatory actions, terrorist attacks, and mob violence in society.

He accused the government of failing to take effective action against the continuous attacks on hundreds of shrines, Baul music gatherings, and marginalized communities throughout the country. He said, “Anti-people incidents will inevitably generate anger among the public. Today’s resistance journey is a manifestation of that anger and protest.”

Criticizing the government’s stance on suppressing protests after the announcement of the election schedule, Anu Muhammad stated that if the government had not supported anti-people activities and taken effective measures to stop the violence, such protests would not have occurred. He demanded swift investigation, justice, and accountability for the violence.

Referring to the attacks on Inquilab Mancha leader Osman Hadi and a teacher from Dhaka University, he stated that no matter the ideology, terrorist attacks on anyone are unacceptable. Every citizen has the right to freedom of expression, and those who wish to shrink the democratic space are involved in such attacks.

Anu Muhammad also strongly criticized the attempts to undermine the Liberation War. He said, December is the month of victory, and those who wish to belittle the Liberation War are against the public interest. According to him, the 1971 Liberation War was a historic mass movement in the struggle for freedom, and subsequent popular uprisings have been part of that same legacy, with the July 24 movement being the most recent.

At the start of the cultural gathering, a moment of silence was observed in memory of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani. Afterwards, artists from Ganasanskritik Oikya and Udichi performed group songs. Shamsuzzaman Milan gave a solo recitation, and the Recitation Federation performed group recitations. Bottila and Prachyanat staged two plays. Artists from the Bangladesh Baul Association performed Baul songs.

After the rally, a torch procession was held from Central Shaheed Minar to the Press Club. At the end of the procession, the closing remarks were made by Mofizur Rahman Laltu, the General Secretary of the Biborton Cultural Center. The organization’s Organizational Secretary, Amiran Nuzhat Monisha, read out the nine demands from the rally.