Artists, intellectuals criticise police for denying permission to cultural solidarity event in Ctg
In a statement sent to the media last night, the signatories said they were deeply concerned that spaces for cultural expression and peaceful protest were being increasingly obstructed.
Artists, writers, academics and theatre activists in Chattogram have criticised police for denying permission to hold a "Songs of Solidarity" programme, saying the decision reflects growing restrictions on cultural practice and freedom of expression.
In a statement sent to the media last night (27 December), the signatories said they were deeply concerned that spaces for cultural expression and peaceful protest were being increasingly obstructed.
They urged police, the administration and the government to play an effective role in protecting cultural activities and citizens' right to express dissent.
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The statement was signed by Ekushey Padak-winning poet and journalist Abul Momen; former Govt Art College principal Rita Dutta; theatre personality Shishir Dutta; poets and journalists Bishwajit Chowdhury, Omar Kaiser and Kamrul Hasan Badal; professors Jahed Ali Chowdhury and Adnan Mannan; theatre activist Asim Dash; Asian University for Women professor Toufiq Sayeed; and University of Chittagong associate professor Mouri De, along with Rabindra and Nazrul Sangeet artistes, dancers, recitation artistes and theatre workers.
The programme, titled "Gane Gane Songhoti Samabesh", was scheduled to be held at 3:30pm yesterday at the Chattogram Shilpakala Academy. Organisers later withdrew the event after failing to obtain police permission.
According to the statement, the event was planned as a symbolic cultural protest against recent attacks across the country on Baul artistes, cultural organisations Chhayanaut and Udichi, newspaper offices, journalists and artists.
Following similar programmes in Dhaka, cultural groups in Chattogram planned to express solidarity through music only.
The statement said the programme involved only singing as a form of peaceful expression.
However, police officials discouraged the event, citing the lack of prior permission and security concerns, referring to an incident involving a music programme at Faridpur Zilla School the previous day.
Even when organisers proposed holding the programme inside the Shilpakala Academy premises instead of on the street, police advised against proceeding, again citing security risks.
"As a result, despite all preparations, the 'Songs of Solidarity' programme could not be held. This shows that even the space for protest is being stifled, which is deeply distressing and alarming," the statement said.
The signatories also recalled that on 16 December, Victory Day, a planned "Bijoy Shobhajatra" inspired by the spirit of the Liberation War was cancelled in Chattogram after police permission was denied.
The statement said every citizen has the right to freedom of expression and that it is the duty of law enforcement agencies to protect that right.
It criticised the authorities for failing to prevent attacks on cultural organisations and media houses in the capital despite having prior information, calling such failures unacceptable.
The group demanded immediate legal action against those involved in attacks on cultural organisations and media outlets.
They said any security risks to cultural practice or free expression must be addressed by law enforcement, warning that otherwise the suppression of cultural activities could encourage extremist forces.
When asked about the matter, Chawkbazar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Babul Azad said security considerations were taken into account in light of incidents in Faridpur and elsewhere.
He added that the organisers had not sought prior permission and that adequate security arrangements would have been provided had permission been requested in advance.
