Calls have been made to identify those responsible for disrupting the play at the National Theatre Hall of Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka, as well as the individuals who attacked the Group Theatre Federation gathering, and to carry out a thorough investigation into these incidents.
The federation's General Secretary Kamal Bayezid warned that if no action is taken against the attackers, a protest programme will be launched.
Bayezid said, "We are theatre workers, our identities are clear. But who are those trying to stop the plays? We want to know their identities. The way they attacked us is an act of terrorism. We demand justice for this."
At a press conference organised by the Group Theatre Federation in the seminar room of the National Theatre Hall at Shilpakala Academy on Saturday, he continued: "It is the state's responsibility to ensure a safe environment for artistic expression by bringing these identified terrorists under the law." He announced that if no action is taken by Nov 15 after a proper investigation, a countrywide protest gathering of theatre workers will be organised, and the next course of action will be declared.
On Nov 2, a performance of Nityapurana by Desh Natok was halted midway. Ticket sales began in the afternoon that day, and around 6pm, a group gathered at the entrance of the Shilpakala Academy, accusing Desh Natok member Ehsanul Aziz Babu of being an "ally of the Awami League" and began protesting.
Later, Director General of the Shilpakala Academy Syed Jamil Ahmed calmed the protesters, and the play resumed. However, the protesters regrouped and gathered at the entrance of the theatre hall, beginning another demonstration. At one point, they tried to break through the gate, which led the director general to decide to halt the performance after consulting with members of Desh Natok.
The next day, in a briefing, DG Jamil explained that the play was stopped midway "considering the safety of the audience". He expressed concern that, seeing the situation, he feared the Shilpakala Academy itself might come under attack.In response, organisations like Udichi and Desh Natok issued statements condemning and protesting the incident, and outraged theatre workers held a protest assembly. On Friday afternoon, the Group Theatre Federation organised a protest rally in response to the halting of the play. During the rally, some people threw eggs from behind and were chased away by the theatre workers.
Later, the theatre activists took up a position in front of the National Theatre Hall and started chanting, "Theatre is our right, who can stop theatre?"
Half an hour later, 40 to 50 protesters gathered again and returned to the theatre, shouting slogans in front of it. At that time, the army and law-enforcing agencies created a barricade between the two groups.
The theatre activists positioned themselves in front of the main gate of the Theatre Hall, while the protesters took position at the gate of the Anti-Corruption Commission. The square in front of the Theatre Hall heated up with the exchange of slogans from both sides. Around 7:15pm, the protesters left the front of the Theatre Hall.
At a press conference on Saturday, Khandaker Shah Alam, the event secretary of the Group Theatre Federation, said: "Those who attacked are calling themselves anti-discrimination students and people. Many in the theatre community were also active in the July movement and were injured as well. "The group whose play they are demanding to stop also participated in the movement.
Theatre groups contain people with diverse political ideologies. Their complaint is against an individual, but they want to stop the play. What exactly do they want?"
General Secretary Bayezid noted that the protesters' demands are unclear. "They came saying that the play 'Desh Bangla' must be stopped. They don't even know the name of the theatre group. They are saying theatre won't be allowed at the Bangla Academy. They don't realise this is the Shilpakala Academy.
"So who are they? Engaging in terrorist behaviour by demanding the play be stopped - they must be brought to justice. We must uncover who is supporting them."
When asked if there were plans to sit down for a discussion, Bayezid told reporters: "We don't even know who they are. They must have a platform for us to speak with them. A few individuals creating a 'mob' to demand the play be stopped - it is the state's responsibility to take action against them." —bdnews24.com
