Home
+
Published : 21 Dec 2025, 04:22 PM
The cultural organisation Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi has said it will rely on public donations to renovate its central office hit by an arson attack, ruling out any assistance from the government or corporate organisations.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Udichi Central Sangsad Acting President Mahmud Selim and General Secretary Amit Ranjan Dey said the organisation would undertake the renovation on its own initiative.
They said Udichi has never relied on government grants or assistance since its establishment on Oct 29, 1968, and has no intention of doing so now.
“The main strength of Udichi is the common people,” the statement said.
“Most of Udichi’s activities are carried out through public donations collected door to door.”
It said the organisation does not collect funds from private institutions except during special festivals or major events.
Thousands of Udichi artists and activists at home and abroad contribute from their own earnings to sustain the organisation’s regular activities, the statement added.
The announcement came following a series of attacks on media and cultural institutions last week amid protests over the death of Inqilab Moncho leader Sharif Osman bin Hadi.
On Thursday night, the offices of national dailies Prothom Alo and The Daily Star in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar were vandalised and set on fire. The headquarters of preeminent cultural institution Chhayanaut in Dhanmondi was also attacked later that night.
During the unrest, threats were made against the Udichi office.
On Friday evening around 7:45pm, the fire service received reports of a blaze at the organisation’s office on Topkhana Road.
Four firefighting units brought the fire under control by 8:13pm after about half an hour.
The statement said Udichi’s artists and workers would play a key role in renovating the damaged office and restoring it to its previous condition.
It also warned that Udichi Central Sangsad would not take responsibility if any individual or organisation is deceived by anyone seeking financial assistance in Udichi’s name.
