Dhallywood rallies against sectarian violence

A group of film actors and directors went out on demonstrations in Dhaka on Sunday under the banner of All Film-related Organisations condemning the recent sectarian violence at places across the country.

They gathered in front of the main entrance of the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) around noon and formed a human chain demanding immediate arrests and punishment of the perpetrators of the attacks on temples, vandalism of idols and violence against Hindu community.

The protesters stood with a banner that reads, “Communalism is cancer of the society. We want justice for the violent incidents in various areas including Cumilla, Chandpur, Pirganj and Noakhali.”

Their protest came a day after a group of TV actors, theatre personalities and singers gathered at the capital’s Manik Mia Avenue on Saturday to speak out against the communal violence.

At the human chain Sunday, actor Zayed Khan, general secretary of Bangladesh Film Artists’ Association, said, “Bangladesh is a country of peaceful coexistence of people of all religions. We have a strong position against all kinds of fundamentalism. We condemn the fanatic fundamentalist groups who are conspiring to destroy the communal harmony of the country to materialise their interests.” “We express our deepest hatred for those who have recently attacked temples, puja mandapas and bloodied us,” he added.

Shaheen Sumon, general secretary of Bangladesh Film Directors’ Association, said, “Bangladesh is non-communal country which achieved its independence with the participation of people of all religions. We don’t expect any kind of violence here. People will live with their respective faiths.”

Bangladesh Film Directors’ Association President Sohanur Rahman Sohan, Bangladesh Film Artists’ Association President Misha Sawdagor, actors Masud Parvez Rubel, Anjana Rahman, Omar Sani, Alexander Bo, Rozina, Maruf Akib, Saimon Tarik, Masum Babul, Aziz Reza and Kabirul Islam Rana are among the other participants of the human chain.

The country witnessed a number of communal attacks during and after this year’s Durga Puja, following an alleged incident of desecrating the Holy Quran at a puja mandap in Cumilla.