The cultural arena was also instrumental in constructing the discourse of Awami fascism in the past decade and a half. The entertainment world is not left out of partyization and assimilation. Once artists like Pijush Banerjee, Asaduzzaman Noor, Riaz, Mau and Shami Kaiser had universal acceptance.
But in the past decade and a half, they became the cultural baton of Awami League. Many people give up their artistry to get the parliament membership, Rajuk’s plot, government grants, titles. Most of the stars of the entertainment world went into hiding after Hasina’s ouster in the student uprising. Some have gone abroad, some are still in the country. Some have been arrested and are still in prison.
Stakeholders say that a person can have multiple identities or roles. He can be an artist as well as a politician. But the entire entertainment world has been partisan during the previous government. So, the stars have to cover up.
Last year on November 14, the presenter of the National Film Award ceremony, Ferdous raised the slogan ‘Sheikh Hasina’s government, we need it again and again. You need us again and again.
(From Page-12)
We need you forever. We want you with all our heart. If you are good, Bangladesh will be good. Bangladesh is most safe in your hands.
A state event was widely criticized on social media as a party’s political campaign workshop. After that, the hero of the movie Dhukai became a member of parliament by getting the Awami League ticket for Dhaka-10 constituency for the first time in the 12th National Parliament election. After the news of Sheikh Hasina’s departure, many government ministers and MPs also left the country. After that, the question arises, where is Ferdous?
It is known that Ferdous was staying in Dhaka till August 4 night. Two days before that, he appeared on BTV and protested against the attack on the television channel. However, Ferdous has not been found since August 5. The mobile number used by this hero is also found to be off. His Facebook account was also not seen sharing any status after August 4. His relatives say that Ferdous left the country with his family. However, there is no truth to this news yet.
Vocalist Mumtaz is in hiding. After the fall of the government, there was no trace of this former member of parliament from Manikganj-2 constituency. It is not known whether he is in the country or has moved abroad. Vocalist Mumtaz Begum appeared with a song video from her verified Facebook page on October 13 evening. Mumtaz did not say where the video was recorded. But sitting on the bed of one of the rooms, how can I tie my hands, legs, and mind? He was seen performing the song titled Amar ChhokBandhibi, Mukh Bandhibi, Paran BandhibiKemne?’
Sheikh Hasina left the country on August 5 in the face of mass protests and went to India. An interim government was formed three days later. After that, Awami League ministers-state ministers and top leaders and influential members of parliament were arrested one by one. Asaduzzaman Noor, brother of Celluloid’s Bak, became a Member of Parliament for the first time from Nilphamari-2 Constituency in 2001 Eighth Parliamentary Elections. Later won four more elections. He became the Minister of Culture after the 10th parliamentary elections. On September 15, he was arrested from his house in Navartan Colony on Bailey Road in Dhaka.
When Alamgir Kumkum, the president of the Bangabandhu Cultural Alliance, died, a conflict over leadership began between the two leaders of the organization, Tarana Halim and the late Akbar Hossain Pathan Farooq. This conflict has been going on for a long time. Later, Tarana Halim became a minister and member of parliament for several times in the Awami League government. No one knows where this reserved woman MP of the 12th parliament is.
Small screen actress Shami Kaiser is in jail. When several students were injured in the July revolution, they filed a case of attempted murder in the name of Shami Kaiser. The actress was arrested from Uttara in the capital as the accused in that case. Shami Kaiser, who started his career by acting on the small screen, was active in the field of politics. Through political influence and closeness with Awami leaders, he was elected as the director of Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), the apex organization of businessmen. This actress got Aladdin’s lamp by sitting on the position of director of FCCI. Shami was also the president of E-Commerce Association of Bangladesh E-CAB, an organization of e-commerce companies. However, he resigned from this post on August 14 and went into hiding.
Although Ferdous covered up, actor Riaz was detained at the capital’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. On the night of August 6, when he went to the airport to fly from Dhaka to the United States, he was sent back by the immigration police. Riaz was involved in various political activities of the previous government. He was associated with the election campaign of Awami League. In 2015, Riaz announced his political position while standing in a human chain near BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s office in Gulshan in the capital. Chanchal Chowdhury, Nader Chowdhury, Tushar Khan, Zahid Hasan, Piyush Banerjee, Tarana Halim were also there. Shakil Khan, Aruna Biswas, Sadia Islam Mau were also associated with the election campaign of Awami League.
Sujata, Ferdous, Riaz, Aruna Biswas, Nipun Akhtar, Shami Kaiser, Azizul Hakim, Rokeya Prachi, Sweety, Hridi Haque, Jyotika Jyoti, Saju Khadem, Sohana Saba, Chandan Reza, musicians went to BTV in July revolution and expressed their position in favor of Awami League. Shubhra Dev, Director Mushfiqur Rahman Gulzar, SA Haque Alik, Khorshed Alam Khosru etc.
Meher Afroz Shaon is in the country. He has been criticizing the interim government on Facebook since the beginning. Last August 28, he posted a picture of himself and said that he is in Nagarkot, Nepal. He is posting various pictures after returning to the country. Sohana Saba will move to social media Facebook. She posted 10 pictures wearing a saree under the title ‘Sabuzia Pakhi’ on her verified Facebook account. It is known that he is now in Istanbul, Turkey.
In 2014, controversial presenter and actor Shahriar Nazim Joy applied to then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for a plot. He has been accused in a case of attempted murder by attacking Khaleda Zia’s convoy. After these incidents, his 10-year-old application to Sheikh Hasina for a plot became viral again. In that application, it can be seen that Sheikh Hasina has been addressed as the best leader and ideal mother of the subcontinent.
Actor Arifin Shubo was allotted a plot of 10 katha in Purbachal last year due to playing the main character in the movie ‘Mujib Ek Rati Rupkar’ based on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s biography. A three-story plot in the same area was also given to the producer of the movie. However, after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, Rajuk recently decided to cancel the allocation of these two plots.
Actress Mousumi came to the discussion after buying the nomination of Awami League. After buying the nomination of Awami League for the reserved seat for women, various discussions started all around. At that time he told reporters that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called upon the youth to join politics. He also formed a youth-led cabinet. I got the courage to join politics after seeing them. It is known from his relatives that he is currently in the United States.
The stars collected nominations for the 12th National Assembly elections. Mahia Mahi bought nomination form of Awami League from Chapainawabganj-2 seat. Mahia Mahi said in the media that she wants to work towards building a better Bangladesh under the leadership of the leader Sheikh Hasina. At the same time, I want to do something for the people of my native Chapainawabganj. So I want to choose. Producer Arshad Adnan, son of President Mohammad Sahabuddin, bought the nomination papers. Actor Siddiqur Rahman bought the nomination form several times due to his involvement in Awami League politics. Actress Jyotika Jyoti wanted to contest from Awami League. Actor Rubel bought nomination for Barisal-3 seat.
In this context, he said then, we are involved in Awami politics as a family. For this reason, no other party or ideology ever comes to mind. And I was born in Babuganj of Barisal. So I bought the nomination form from Barisal-3 seat.
Film actor Shakeel Khan wanted nomination of Awami League for Bagerhat-3 seat. He actively participated in various programs of the government that fell in the July revolution. Rokeya Prachi, actresses Apu Biswas, Nipun, Tanveen Sweety, Sohana Saba, Shahnoor and Urmila Srabanti Karo wanted to become Awami League parliament members.
