Emeritus Prof Serajul Islam Chowdhury inaugurates a cultural convention by releasing balloons at the Central Shaheed Minar in the city yesterday. Sammilita Sangskritik Jote organised the event.Photo: STAR

National Prof Kabir Chowdhury at a cultural convention yesterday said cultural spirit should be upheld to eliminate the communal forces from the country.
“Cultural spirit was a great inspiration for us during the liberation war. So, to purge the communal forces from the country, the cultural activists should carry on with their movement for a secular Bangladesh where rights will be equal for all,” he added.
Speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural session of the convention, Prof Chowdhury also criticised the government for removing Baul statues from the roundabout near the Zia International Airport under the constant pressure of religious bigots.
Sammilita Sangskritik Jote organised the programme at the Central Shaheed Minar in the city.
The cultural activists demanded cancellation of the rule of taking permission for holding any cultural programme from the police or the deputy commissioner of a concerned district.
Their demands include allocation of annual budget of at least Tk 10 lakh to every Shilpakala Academy and arrest of Fazlul Haque Amini on sedition charge for threatening to demolish all the sculptures that carries the spirit of the war.
General Secretary of the Jote Golam Kuddus said though the political parties can hold rallies on the streets, cultural activists have to seek permission from the administration.
“We do not accept such regulations,” he said, adding that communal anti-liberation forces are hatching a conspiracy against the country to make it a Pakistan-like communal country which was not the spirit of the liberation war.
Emeritus Prof Serajul Islam Chowdhury said, “The promise of the liberation war was a secular democratic country where every citizen will get the equal right irrespective of age, sex, stripes and colour and religion, but we could not achieve as the anti-liberation fundamentalist forces carried out a conspiracy against the country and the state itself sponsored them.”
“Fundamentalism across the world is provoked by the capitalist forces for their own interests and Bangladesh falls victim to that, he said, adding that Bush declares crusade whereas Islamists declare Jihad to distract people from their own need of economic freedom.”
Presided over by Jote President Nasiruddin Yusuf Bacchu, the function was also addressed by Chief Coordinator of Sector Commanders Forum Lt Gen (retd) Harun-ur Rashid, former president of Duta Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique and noted artist Rafiqunnabi.