Artists rally for students’ demands: “The voice of the fallen still rings in our ears”

Performers, directors and photographers under the banner of 'Visual Media Artists’ have rallied in support of the 9-point demands of students protesting against discrimination.

On Thursday (August 1), artists and workers from film, photography, theater, and mass media gathered at Farmgate in Dhaka, including Dhallywood star Siam Ahmed.

Reflecting on the recent violence, Siam Ahmed said, "The voices of our fallen brothers and sisters are still ringing in my ears. One of them, Mir Mugdha, was shot while trying to provide water to protesters. His last words were, 'Does anyone need water?' As someone deeply involved in the entertainment industry, I feel compelled to stand with the students. If we cannot support them, then why are we doing this work?"

Artists braved the drizzling rain to express their solidarity with the students, chanting slogans such as, "We want a fearless, just, humane Bangladesh," "Prosecute all murders," and "Stop murder, violence, mass arrests, and harassment."

Siam Ahmed emphasised, "These students have not made unreasonable demands that warrant their deaths. We must ensure justice for these murders before any peace can be achieved in Bangladesh."

The protest was organised under the banner of 'Visual Artists,' which issued a statement condemning the recent killings, violence, and mass arrests linked to the quota reform movement. The statement called for accountability for all murders, cessation of violence and mass arrests, and the release of detained students. It reiterated the promise of fairness, equality, and human dignity enshrined in the constitution of Bangladesh.

Prominent filmmakers and artists, including Mostafa Sarwar Faruqi, Nurul Alam Atiq, Akram Khan, Piplu R Khan, Amitabh Reza Chowdhury, Syed Ahmed Shawki, Humaira Bilquis, Tanim Noor, Zahin Farooq Amin, Tanveer Ahsan, Yashir Al Haque, Naseef Amin, Dhruv Hasan, actors Azad Abul Kalam, Ajmeri Haque Badhan, Nusrat Imroz Tisha, Sabila Noor, Tasnia Farin, photographers Munem Wasif, Taslima Akhtar Lima, and artists Ritu Sattar, Tanjim Wahab, and vocalist Shibu Kumar Shil and others expressed their solidarity.