Ganatantrik Odhikar Committee condemns demolition of historic 'Bikkhon Mancha' in Mymensingh, demands rebuilding
Built and nurtured over the past four decades by the Mymensingh Sahitya Sangshad, the iconic cultural stage was razed by bulldozers on Wednesday (30 April), sparking outrage among cultural activists and citizens
The Ganatantrik Odhikar Committee has strongly condemned the demolition of the historic "Bikkhon Mancha" by the district administration on the banks of the Brahmaputra River in Mymensingh.
Built and nurtured over the past four decades by the Mymensingh Sahitya Sangshad, the iconic cultural stage was razed by bulldozers on Wednesday (30 April), sparking outrage among cultural activists and citizens.
In a statement today (2 May), Ganatantrik Odhikar Committee member Anu Muhammad described the act as a "barbaric abuse of power" and an "attack on free thought and cultural heritage".
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The committee has demanded an immediate apology from the authorities and the reconstruction of the stage under government supervision.
Anu Muhammad emphasised that the "Bikkhon Mancha" was more than just a physical structure — it symbolised a vibrant cultural legacy where poets, writers, and artists gathered every Friday for four decades to exchange ideas on literature, philosophy, and art.
The demolition, the committee said, represents a calculated attempt to suppress creativity, free expression, and the region's cultural identity.
"Destroying such a place is not merely the destruction of bricks and mortar — it is a deep wound to the soul of Mymensingh," reads the statement. "This incident is part of a broader authoritarian trend where state power is used to eliminate dissent and creative freedom."
The committee also expressed deep concern over what they described as an alarming rise in fabricated cases and mob justice against writers, teachers, and artists following the July uprising.
"Such actions betray the public's aspiration for a democratic and accountable state," it said.
Demanding justice, the committee called for exemplary punishment of those responsible for the demolition and urged the government to take a clear stand against such "undemocratic and anti-cultural" actions.
The committee also called on the people of Bangladesh to resist such assaults on their cultural rights.
