The essence of the events Bangladesh witnessed during the student-led mass uprising in July and August, which escalated into a bloodied revolution, ultimately toppling the regime of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and giving rise to what we now call a new Bangladesh, is truly inexplicable.
The story of "Shono Mohajon" and its role in the July Revolution is more than just a tale of musical success; it's a stark reminder of the complex relationship between art and society. While the song's resurgence demonstrates the power of music to inspire and unify, it also raises critical questions about the nature of protest anthems and the responsibilities of artistes in times of social upheaval.
"I was banned for a full seven years due to my political identity. Although it may seem irrelevant, the Covid pandemic taught me a lot. I realised that one can survive with fewer possessions. Excessive food and luxuries are unnecessary, and true peace comes from standing closely with people in need," shared Kanak Chapa.
The march will start at 3:00pm from the base of Raju Memorial Sculpture at Dhaka University.
The students can help establish a new political party and free the country from the burden of family dynasties.
Renowned singer Syed Hyder Husyn has long been a powerful voice for the nation, society, and its people through his evocative songs. Though his health has recently declined, limiting his ability to perform, Husyn refused to remain silent during the anti-discrimination protests. Despite his illness, he composed a new song, though an internet shutdown delayed its release.
When it comes to speaking out against injustice and oppression, there aren’t many artistes who stand out as prominently as Ashfaque Nipun. Known for his active presence both online and on the ground, Nipun has been a vocal participant in various protests. His determination was evident during the quota reform movement, which later evolved into the anti-discrimination student movement and led to the dramatic fall of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s regime.
The anti-discrimination student movement coordinators had thus arranged for a concert featuring these influential rappers today at the Shontrash Birodhi Raju Sharokh Bhaskarjya on Dhaka University’s premises. However, the concert has been postponed due to severe flooding in the eastern part of the country and adverse weather conditions.
Recalling a specific incident, Mousumi described how, like many others, she changed her social media profile picture to red in solidarity with the movement. Not long after, she received a phone call during the ongoing curfew, with someone repeatedly inquiring about her whereabouts. Fearful for her safety, she and her husband fled their home. “We returned 12 hours later, only to receive another call the next day, warning me not to post anything else. But I didn't stop. I spoke out against injustice, and I wasn’t afraid."
In such challenging times, when protesters and civilians were indiscriminately killed, wholesale arrests, block raids, and a nationwide internet shutdown violated citizens' fundamental rights, keeping the nation on edge for weeks– only a few had the courage to raise their voices against the oppression and injustice.
Comments from Shahbhag on August 5, 2024.
If the ruling party leaders don’t understand or pretend not to understand why students are not staying back at home (their campuses and dormitories remain shuttered), we are in much deeper trouble than one could imagine
Under the platform titled “Artistes Against Genocide and Oppression”, a diverse group comprising visual artistes, photographers, performance artistes, musicians, poets, writers, researchers, architects, and art organisers, organised this rally of resistance. Their gathering was a response to the recent turmoil surrounding the quota reform protests, which have led to wholesale arrests and indiscriminate killings.