36 July Celebration: Remembering the Monsoon Revolution through music

The sirens, the crowds, the chants that shook the city last year — all of it still remains in the air. The memory of a nation rising to its feet in the face of brutal repression remains fresh, and on 5 August a year later, standing on Manik Mia Avenue, it felt impossible not to feel the echo of those days. 

What began as an uprising fuelled by grief and fury has transformed into an enduring movement, now carried forward through song, performance and the unbreakable voice of the people.

On Tuesday, Manik Mia Avenue turned into a sprawling sea of celebration and remembrance. Even in the rainy weather, the atmosphere was electric. The programme opened with the harmonious voices of Saimum Shilpigosthi, with the song, 'Ei Desh Amar Bangladesh, Amar Bhalobasha'.

Their soulful set was followed by melodies of Kalarab Shilpigosthi and solo performances by Nahid Hasan and Tashfi. 

As the afternoon prayer break concluded, the tone shifted from gentle remembrance to fiery resistance. The energy swelled. Chittagong Hip Hop Hood, with their street-hardened style, lit up the stage. 

Then came Shezan, the voice behind 'Kotha Ko', the song that asked the painful question: How different is 2024 from 1952? This question has haunted the consciousness of a nation where students were once again gunned down for speaking the truth.

Next came Shunno, a band that needs no introduction, whose sound has long held a place in the hearts of young Bangladeshis. Their performance turned the space into a chorus of thousands.

But it was not just music. At exactly 2:25pm, the crowd turned their attention to the sky. A theatrical reenactment titled Fascist's Flight unfolded — a symbolic portrayal of former premier Hasina's fleeing to India. 

The act featured a staged helicopter evacuation, complete with helicopter-shaped balloons rising into the air. Chants erupted, "Down with dictatorship!", "Justice for the fallen!". It was part street theatre, part catharsis — a collective letting-go of a regime that had clung on for too long.

As the day went on, the stage saw the likes of Shayan, Ethun Babu and Moushumi bring a more traditional flavour back into the mix, followed by legendary rock bands, Souls and Warfaze, whose performances sent waves of nostalgia through the crowd — a reminder that even in our darkest times, music has always been our refuge. 

When Partha Barua took the stage, the familiar tune of 'Dekha Hobe Bondhu' rose above the crowd. The moment was made even more memorable with the crowd's chants, turning the song into a shared anthem.

Two voices now define this newly freed Bangladesh: Shezan and Hannan Hossain Shimul. Their rap anthems, 'Kotha Ko' and 'Awaaz Utha', once cried in the dark, became the people's voice.

Released as the first blood was shed, 'Awaaz Utha' opened with Bangabandhu's historic words, "We shall give more. But we will free the people of this land." Hannan's verses demanded justice and predicted it.

Shezan's 'Kotha Ko' questioned whether 2024 was any different from past eras of student bloodshed. The answer came in the streets.

These weren't just songs. They were the soundtrack of a movement.

As dusk fell, all eyes now turned to the skies. At around 7:30pm, drones lit up the evening with the drama performance, 'Do You Miss Me?'

Later, Elita Karim took the stage, and finally, at 8:00 pm, Artcell, the country's most iconic rock band, delivered the closing performance — a grand finale fitting for a day soaked in art, memory and defiance.

Organised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and orchestrated by the Shilpakala Academy, this open-to-all event was more than just a concert. It was a reclamation. A reminder that freedom, once fought for in the mud and blood of 1971, and again in the streets of 2024, must be defended in every era — with voices raised, fists clenched and songs sung.