Soaked in the rain, artists from various visual media held a gathering in Farmgate to express their solidarity with the ongoing movement of students in the country.
Despite the weather and police obstruction, they were determined to make their voices heard.
Originally, they had planned to assemble on Manik Mia Avenue in front of the National Parliament at 11am on Thursday.
However, police stopped them at the Khamarbari intersection around 10:45am. At exactly 11am, heavy rain began, adding another layer of difficulty.
Yet, neither the police nor the rain could suppress the artists' resolve.
They all shared a common demand: justice for the murders and an end to the killings. They also expressed solidarity with the nine-point demands of the students.
Unable to proceed to their original location, the artists redirected their march to the front of Ananda Cinema Hall in Farmgate via Indira Road.
Holding banners and posters, they chanted slogans condemning the killings, demanding justice, stopping mass arrests, criticizing the government, and calling for its resignation. Many started singing protest songs.
Leaders among the artists, filmmakers, and crew members gave speeches condemning and protesting the government's actions.
Although many police officers were present, they did not obstruct the gathering any further.
The artists' sentiments resonated with many, emphasizing that the government's brutal suppression of the students' rightful movement could not occur in any democratic civilized society.
Workers from various branches of visual media, including film, photography, theatre, and journalism, gathered to protest against the violence, mass arrests, and harassment surrounding the quota reform movement.
They demanded justice for all murders, an end to shootings and violence, the cessation of mass arrests and harassment, and the release of detained students.
One of the artists said: “The promise of justice, equality, and human dignity with which the independent Bangladesh emerged through the great Liberation War is our constitutional right as citizens of Bangladesh. It is with this right in mind that we felt the need to stand on the streets.”
Notable cultural activists present included Mamunur Rashid, Mosharraf Karim, Azmeri Haque Badhon, Sabila Noor, Ashfaq Nipun, Nurul Alam Atique, Amitabh Reza, Piplu R Khan, Shibu Kumar Shil, Redoan Rony, Zakia Bari Mamo, Sohel Mondol, Siam Ahmed, and many others.
