Artistes call to boycott Diganta TV

Television crews and artistes said on Monday they would boycott Diganta television station as it is tied to Jamaat-e-Islami.

A group of popular artistes announced the decision from the ‘Ganajagaran Mancha’ in the afternoon as they expressed their solidarity with the protest in Shahbagh.

The Shahbagh protest reached the 14th day on Monday when President Mohammad Zillur Rahman also signed the International Crimes (Tribunals) (Amendment) Act 2013 paving the way for bringing the fundamentalist party under the purview of law for its role in 1971. Jamaat-e-Islami opposed the creation of Bangladesh and allegedly formed auxiliary forces to aid Pakistani troops in killing and raping.

Tarik Anam, Shampa Reza, Chanchal Chowdhury, Nipa Chowdhury, Nader Chowdhury, Raonak Hasan, Azizul Hakim, Suborna Mustafa, Rokeya Prachi, Kusum Sikder, Richi Solaiman and Hasan Masud were among the artistes who joined the Shahbagh protest on Monday.

Tarik Anam, a popular actor, said, “Today we express solidarity and promise to never take part in any shows or dramas for the channels tied to fundamentalists and war criminals. I urge all artistes to boycott Diganta channel.”

“We request the owners of media outlets to not air any advertisements for institutions involved with Jamaat-e-Islami. If there are members of Jamaat working in your channels, please prevent their activities”, he added.

Popular actress Joya Ahsan expressed solidarity with Shahbagh and chanted the now revived slogan of 1971 ‘Joy Bangla’.