Cultural activists in Kurigram formed a human chain protesting the decision of building a shopping complex through demolishing an auditorium (Pouro Milonayoton) where cultural programs have been held for over 40 years.
The protest took place in front of the central Shaheed Minar in Kurigram town on Wednesday afternoon.
Speakers at the protest said the decision of demolishing the auditorium has been taken by the Kurigram municipality mayor to "unethically" profit through renting them to shop owners.
Protesters added that the action has wounded the town's cultural folk greatly, as the auditorium has been the only means of cultural expression in the town after the 1971 liberation war.
Demonstrators at the program demanded a renovation of the auditorium and sought the intervention of local influentials to save the traditional building.
Later at the protest, the participants signed a petition regarding the matter.
Among other cultural folks, some notable people present at the human chain were: freedom fighter Aminul Islam Manju Mondal, also the former president of district unit Awami League, Veteran playwright Sardar Md Razzak, former municipality chairman Md Kaziul Islam and local CPB-BASOD leader Abul Bashar Monju.
