photo: Anurup Kanti Das

Thousands of youngsters in Chittagong said “no” to violence against women at a mega concert at MA Aziz Stadium in the port city of Chittagong on Saturday.
When Bangladesh Musical Bands Association (BAMBA) President Hamin Ahmed urged the audience to take oath to say “no” to violence against women, they all raised their hands and took oath for three times.
The audience, mostly youngsters, gathered at the stadium to enjoy the concert of 13 leading bands including LRB, Nagar Baul, Miles, Warface, Feedback, Aurthohin, Prometheus, Artcell, Crypticfate, Black, Nemesis, Powersurge and Bedwin.
The concert kicked off at 3:30pm with the presentation of Bedwin.
Thousands of young people, boys and girls, enjoyed the concert waving their hands and dancing with the singers.
Not only the youngsters but also the elderly people were seen enjoying the concert. Manjur Morshed, a senior police official, was captivated by the music for a while as soon as the popular band Feedback started performing the popular song “Mausumi.” Manjur, who was on duty at the stadium, said it was one of the most favourite songs in his teenage life.
Actor Iresh Zaker was seen taking photos while Crypticfate was performing on the stage. “Apart from acting I love photography,” Iresh said, adding, “And I also love music.”
He said vocalist Shakib of Crypticfate is his friend and he wants to preserve his presentation in such a mega event in his camera. He said he had come here from the capital only for this.
About the impact of a concert titled “Say no to violence against women: Be a real man”, he said the programme like mega concert is one of the most effective ways for inspiring the people, especially the youngsters, to show respect towards women.
Flight Lieutenant Luthful Inam of Bangladesh Air Force enjoyed performance of his favourite bands LRB, Miles and Nagar Baul.
While Aiyub Bachchu was performing “Sei tumi keno eto ochena holey” Luthful was spellbound like other spectators. “After many years I have come to enjoy any such concert and I am enjoying the concert very much,” he said.
Bachchu enthralled the audience with his natural mania. As a local, he asked the audience in Chittagong accent if they were committed to say “No to violence against women and want to be a real man”. They replied positively.
Vocalist Suman of the band Aurthohin said Chittagong always rocked for band music. He announced that he would release the next album of Aurthohin from Chittagong.
BAMBA President Hamin, also a vocalist of band Miles, said it was the first mega concert held in Chittagong with the participation of 13 leading bands of the country.
He said it was the second concert in the country with the slogan “Say no to violence against women: Be a real man” organised jointly by UNFPA and BAMBA. The first one was held in Dhaka last year.
He thanked the UNFPA officials for providing all sorts of facilities to BAMBA for organising such a mega concert. He also thanked the music fans in Chittagong for their support and cooperation.
“People coming to the concert will receive the message which we are trying to disseminate in society,” Hamin said expressing hope that they would be able to organise such a mega concert in other cities of the country in future with the same slogan.
UNFPA Country Representative Arthur Erken said, “Every woman has the right to live with dignity and free of fear, violence and discrimination. Today and every day, we, especially the men and boys, must speak out forcefully for zero tolerance of all forms of violence against women and girls. And we must recognise that this is not a woman's issue alone -- this is an issue that concerns us all.”
UNFPA Operation Manager Afsana Taher urged men to be “real men” by saying “no” to violence against women and resist violence against women.
Minister for Primary and Mass Education Afsarul Ameen said the people of Chittagong expressed solidarity with the slogan of the concert.
Saiful Majumder, an expatriate from the UK, went to the stadium to enjoy music performed by his favourite bands Feedback, LRB, Nagar Baul and Miles.
“After a long time I am enjoying such a mega concert at my home city and it is really amazing,” he said.