Filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki said that a conspiracy to destabilize the government through provocation includes spreading unrest and inciting further violence among groups.
He said: “Despite being an Awami League supporter, an artist cannot support fascists involved in state-sponsored crimes such as genocide and enforced disappearances, nor can they produce consent for fascism.”
He made this comment in a Facebook post on Friday.
Farooki said: “I have written many times before that Bangladesh’s cultural movement has become completely detached from the ‘time.’ Playing as the B-team of the Awami League, organizations like Sommilito Sangskritik Jote, Group Theatre Federation, and Short Film Forum have become irrelevant to the new generation. Think for a moment, if an artist during Hitler's era watered the roots of his tree instead of protesting against his crimes against humanity, how would history judge them?”
He further wrote: “You can be an Awami League supporter or a BNP supporter, but as an artist, you cannot, under any circumstances, speak for fascists involved in state-sponsored crimes like genocide and disappearances, nor can you create consent for fascism. Now, consider the cultural-political roles of these three organizations over the past 16 years. Does this mean we should target these foot soldiers? Despite the risk of dissatisfaction among my revolutionary brothers and sisters, I must say-I personally stand against this.”
Farooki said: “At the same time, we must remember that the bloodstains have not yet dried, and justice for killers and looters has not begun. However, provocations to destabilize the interim government are happening in various places. Listen to the killer’s phone conversations. Do they express remorse or provoke further killings? A cooling-off period is necessary after a revolution. Without that, how can I expect space for liberal critique? I don’t know the answer.”
