Attack and arson at Udichi office blamed on Yunus government’s inaction and patronage

Staff Correspondent

Although fanatic groups including Jamaat-Hefazat attacked and set fire to the central office of the Udichi Shilpi Gosthi, a progressive cultural organization of the country that received the Independence Medal, no one from the Yunus government inquired. Cultural materials and documents were burned in the fire. The damage was extensive.

The damage was displayed on Tuesday. The event, held in front of the Udichi office on Topkhana Road in the capital, highlighted the organization’s 57-year history.

Many visitors were left heartbroken by the sight of musical instruments, theatrical costumes, stage props, banners, posters, books, photographs and important documents that were burnt in the fire. These materials bear witness to Udichi’s long cultural movement, mass music, drama and progressive practices.

This institution has a good reputation for progressive cultural activities at home and abroad. Udichi is a bright institution of free thought and humanistic culture in favor of the Liberation War of Bangladesh, against fanaticism and fundamentalism. It is also playing a great role in the democratic struggle of Bangladesh. But even after the office was attacked, burned and looted, the Yunus government did not protect it. Even after the damage was done, no one from the Yunus government went there and showed sympathy.

Udichi leaders complained that even after 24 days of the brutal attack and arson, no responsible person in the Yunus government has inquired about the organization. They have not even shown the slightest sympathy. This shows who is behind it. The organization’s acting president Habibul Alam and general secretary Jamshed Anwar were present at the time.

In a written statement at the press conference, Jamshed Anwar said, “Despite such a horrific attack on Udichi, the country’s largest, traditional and mass-based cultural organization, the role of the cultural advisor was completely indifferent. This indifference is giving rise to many questions and doubts. The indifference of the Yunus government in the attack on an organization that stands for culture and free thought shows who was behind the attack here.”

The attack was described as well-planned and said to be the work of anti-independence, radical communal forces. The Udichi office is an important seat of the country’s progressive cultural movement. Today, that office has been reduced to ashes, which is a direct blow to the country’s culture and free thought.

Musical instruments of the Chayanaut destroyed in the terrorist attack

Jamshed Anwar also said that on December 18 last year, the offices of Chhayanaut, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star were attacked. The next day, the Udichi office was attacked. These series of attacks prove that this is not an isolated incident, but a well-planned attack. He alleged that although everyone was aware of the threat of attacks by Chhatra Shibir leaders at public gatherings, no effective preventive measures were taken. The indifference of the interim government paved the way for this barbarity.

Jamshed Anwar said that on the day of the attack, law enforcement agencies were contacted regarding security, but the necessary assistance was not received from the police.

He said, “We were staying at the office from morning till afternoon. Around 4 pm, after participating in a protest program in front of Chhayanot Bhaban, we received news of the attack in Udichi on our way back.”

The press conference also alleged that the interim government had deliberately excluded Udichi from the annual government grant given to cultural organizations this year. The decision was termed discriminatory and unacceptable and demanded its immediate withdrawal. The leaders said that Udichi cannot be suppressed through intimidation.

After the press conference, former CPB president Mujahidul Islam Selim toured the burnt-out office. He said he had the same feeling on November 10, 1971, when Pakistani forces killed people in Bettiah and burned their bodies.

Present at the event were BASDER General Secretary Bazlur Rashid Firoz, Udichi Vice President Rafiqul Hasan Jinnah, Revolutionary Communist League Professor Abdus Sattar, Biplobti Sanskritik Kendra General Secretary Mofizur Rahman, Charan Sanskritik Kendra President Nikhil Das, among others.

Udichi leaders have alleged that fanatics, under the patronage of the Yunus government, have attacked Udichi’s office. They have targeted this progressive and free-thinking institution as they push Bangladesh towards militancy.