Artists Demand Resignation of Corrupted Heads of Literary and Cultural Sector

Poets, writers, and artists have issued a statement demanding the resignation of the corrupt leaders of art, literature, and cultural institutions. Poet Polyar Wahid made this demand in a statement on August 18. The statement called for the resignation and departure of dictator Sheikh Hasina, prompted by the unprecedented popular uprising of anti-discrimination students, which forced her to resign and flee the country. Our goal is to establish a cultural environment free of oppression in the new Bangladesh following the July genocide and the August revolution. Achieving this will require structural and policy reforms within the state and public institutions.

The writers and artists made a statement calling for the removal of individuals from various public institutions in the literature and culture sector in Bangladesh, especially Fine Arts Institute-DU, National Museum, Nazrul Institute, BTV, Bangladesh Betar, Islamic Foundation and other literary and cultural institutions. They accused these individuals of supporting a former dictator, advocating for genocide, and perpetuating oppression and suffering. The statement demanded the removal of the accused individuals, as well as an investigation into their corruption, “We demand the removal of all the accused, including the heads of these institutions. At the same time, their corruption should be investigated and tried”. It also called for the formation of a national nominating committee to ensure the appointment of the right people in these institutions— “A national nominating committee should be formed for the recruitment process in these institutions. So that the right person can be appointed in the right place”.

The statement noted that, “the heads of Bangla Academy, Shilpakala Academy, Shishu Academy, National Book Centre, and Sonargaon Folk Art Museum have already resigned”. Additionally, urged the appointment of party-neutral, talented, qualified, young, and honest individuals to fill the vacant positions— “After these resignations, we urge the institutions to appoint party-neutral, talented, qualified, young and honest people to the vacant posts”.

The authors and artists who signed the statement are— Kajal Shahnawaz, Ahmed Swapan Mahmud, Majnu Shah, Polyar Waheed, Enamul Haque Palash, Nakib Mukshi, Zahir Hasan, Shawkat Hossain, Ehsan Habib, Ferdous Mahmud, Ferdous Mahmud, Salah Uddin Shuvra, Shatabdi Zahid, Ehsan Mahmud, Kazi Nasir Mamun, Syed Jamil, Salehin Shipra, Ruhul Mahfuz Joy, Waheed Rokon, Malekul Haque, Jabbar Al Naeem, Hassan Robayet, Mohsin Ahmed, Muhammad, Nijam, Zobair Milon, Joy Jahaji, Hassan Jamil, Humayun Shafiq, Ahmed Ishaq, Abir Abraz, Masum Munwar, Shamsam Tajil, Sanaullah Sagar, Tuhin Khan, Shadman Shahid, Sajjad Saif, Manjurul Islam Megh, Mahmudur Rahman, Ridwan Nomani, Romena Afroz, Mritosh Tatrach, Faridul Islam Nirjon, Samay Shah, Chanchal Bashar, Imel Naeem, Razia Sultana Ishita, Pintu Rahman, Ratul Muhammad, Sanwar Rusel, Saeed Islam, Shaibal Aditya, Afsana Zakia, Kazi Zubair Mahmud, Abul Kalam Al Azad, Biprotip Mostak, Mahdi Anam, Mamun Azad and Rayhan Ahmed Tamim.

Tags: Bangladesh