Jatiyo Sahitto Odhidoptor Bastabaya Parishad placed 23 point charter of demands for reforming the state.
Leaders of the organisation, a national platform of poets and writers, gave the suggestions to the interim government while addressing a press conference at Hotel Royal Palace at Topkhana Road in the capital on Saturday afternoon.
Poet and novelist Kazi Sabbir, chief coordinator of the organisation, read out a written speech, while poet Nandini Luiza, its advisor, chaired the event.
They suggested renaming the Cultural Affairs Ministry as Literature and Cultural Affairs Ministry and formation of a separate department titled ‘National Literature Department’ under the renamed ministry in the interest of Bangla language, literature and culture, and taking steps aimed at properly evaluating poets and writers.
With the slogan ‘Let Literature Be a Tool of Building Our Society’, they called for preparing a list of literature workers from the grassroots level and providing state recognition to it. Take steps to free institutions such as Bangla Academy, Shilpakala Academy, and National Library from the clutches of political influence, said a press release.
As part of protecting human rights, take necessary steps for updating the controversial ‘Cyber Security Act-2023’ for the sake of public interest. In a bid to derive the maximum benefits of 5th-generation technology, let us build Bangladesh’s youths to keep pace with the developed world.
Their demands also include improving the condition of agriculture and farmers, prevention of corruption, ensuring independence of the judiciary and freedom of the mass media, bringing necessary reform to the education sector, and taking effective steps to halt the price rise of essentials.
Dr Taimur Alam Khandaker, senior writer and advisor of the organization, advisors Professor Dr ATM Rezaul Hoque, Professor Dr Sandipok Mallik, poet Atik Helal, Ruby Shamsun Nahar, SAK Rezaul Karim, Mili Haque, Sheikh Iqbal Hasan Swapon, and coordinators Jesmin Dipa and Shamima Rosy also spoke on the occasion.
