Artists and cultural activists who joined the protests against the Public Works Department drive that resulted in damage of paintings at Chhobir Haat, , where artists showcase their works, have demanded a permanent structure at the place. Chhobir Haat is a popular site at the entrance to Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital Cultural activists who took to the streets, had so far held rebellious songs, street drama, painted walls, documentary shows, brought out flag processions as acts of protest on Thursday and Friday. They also took an oath to continue such programmes until Chhobir Haat returns to its original state.
PWD officials on Tuesday said they used bulldozers to remove makeshift shops close to the entrance and on footpath and artistes alleged that many paintings had gone missing since the drive.
Kamruzzaman Swadhin, a member of Chhobir Haat told New Age that they will continue their protests and will begin a week long protesting programme from next Friday.
The protest programme that will be titled Barshar Chhobir Haat, will show case the rainy season look of the place, through painting exhibitions, sculptor shows and others, he added ,
Chhobir Haat, located just opposite to the Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University at the Suhrawardy Udyan, used to regularly organise cultural functions and exhibitions under a banyan tree.
Since December 2003, freelance painters, poets, litterateurs, performing artistes and young intellectuals have been organising Chobir Haat, where they hung out in the evening.
On Friday, a group of artists and cultural activists brought out a procession from Chhobir Haat to the Dhaka University Teacher Student Centre, carrying national flags, followed by a rally. Speakers at the rally said they had been campaigning for a movement for flourishing of art and literature in the country against the backdrop of a globalization threat to it.
Bipul Shah, an artist of the Haat said that none had created obstacles to the activities of Chhobir Haat in the last decade, ‘I do not understand why the government damaged the paintings of the Haat while it was running with no political purposes’ he said.
He demanded returning of their paintings that went missing since drive.
Dhaka University teacher Shisir Bhattacharya, also a renowned cartoonist, demanded establishing a permanent structure at the Chhobir Haat.
Another Dhaka University teacher Sheikh Monir Uddin said there are permanent places and institutions to nourish art and culture in many countries, hence Bangladesh should be no exception.
Abul Bark Alvi, another member of Chhobir Haat, said they strongly protested against the act and observed that the PWD did not demolish unauthorised shops inside the park.
PWD chief engineer Kabir Ahmed Chowdury admitted that they removed the paintings from the walls of the entrance to carry out a decision by the department.
He, however, refused to say anything further in this regard.
-With New Age input
