Home
+
Published : 08 Nov 2024, 11:42 PM
An attack has been reported at a protest rally organised by the Group Theatre Federation outside the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
The incident occurred on Friday after 4pm as playwright and director Mamunur Rashid addressed the gathering.
Witnesses say a group of people threw eggs from behind during Rashid’s speech, sparking immediate reactions from drama activists, who chased the attackers away.
The protest had been called by the federation to denounce the recent halt of Nityapurana, a stage play by theatre troupe Desh Natak.
In response to the attack, Rashid said from the stage: “Those who did this despicable act, why did they run away? Come forward. We will continue with the drama.”
According to Rashid, the incident occurred in the presence of security personnel, prompting him to question the effectiveness of the protection provided.
“What kind of security did we receive? Those involved in this act must face exemplary punishment,” he told bdnews24.com.
Playwright Masum Reza condemned the attack and called for the attackers’ arrest.
“A few miscreants came from behind, attacked, and ran away. We, the theatre workers, strongly condemn this act. Those responsible must be arrested. This will not stop our theatre. We will continue performing every day,” he said.
Masun also expressed frustration that police present at the scene did not take action.
“There were policemen here. Why could not they detain anyone? We need to find these people and bring them to justice,” he added.
Ananta Hira, a presidium member of the federation, told bdnews24.com: “We will hold nationwide protest programmes. Just as our rally was ending, a few miscreants carried out this act and then ran off.”
The federation’s General Secretary Kamal Bayezid announced further protests from the rally stage.
“We will wear black badges at all cultural events for seven days, and on the 15th of November, theatre activists nationwide will stage protests against this attack,” he said.
OUNTER-PROTESTS OUTSIDE SHILPAKALA ACADEMY
After the egg-throwing incident at the protest rally, a group of people staged a counter-protest against the theatre activists outside Shilpakala Academy.
On Friday evening, amidst rising tensions between the two groups, army personnel were deployed to the scene.
They created a barricade between the sides and managed to restore calm.
The theatre workers took up positions outside the main gate of the National Theatre Hall, while their opponents positioned themselves outside the Anti-Corruption Commission gate, where the two groups exchanged heated slogans.
The situation remained tense until around 7:15pm.
bdnews24.com spoke with some of the people who were protesting against the theatre workers.
One of them, who did not disclose their political affiliation, referred to Ehsanul Aziz Babu of the theatre troupe ‘Desh Natak’ as an 'Awami League agent’.
Other protesters outside the theatre chanted slogans accusing the group of being ‘agents of the Awami League’.
One protester told bdnews24.com, “We will not let the agents of India and the Awami League stay here. Our brothers gave their lives in July, and we will not let their blood go in vain.”
Another protester, Shafique, who gave a single name, told bdnews24.com:“Ehsan Babu of Desh Natok is an Awami League agent. His play will not be allowed here.”
When asked for his full identity, Shafique claimed to be simply an ‘ordinary person’.
