Wind of change: Artistes call for reforms in entertainment arena

In the heat of mid-July, as student-led protests reached their zenith, the authoritarian Hasina government abruptly imposed a curfew, putting theatre director Musafir Rony into a difficult position. He was forced to continue filming his drama series 'Jonakir Alo,' aired weekly on NTV, with no option but to press on. 

Yet, organising a shoot required at least fifty people, and despite Rony's persistent pleas for permission from the Uttara East and West police stations, his requests were consistently rejected. In desperation, Rony turned to the Directors Guild, seeking help from its president and general secretary, but his pleas fell on deaf ears, leaving his production in disarray.

"If the Directors Guild, created to support us, fails to provide that support, what is the purpose of the organisation?" asked Rony.

Recently, on 17 August, Rony posted on Facebook about the need to make the organisation more effective and dynamic. He alleged that all the decisions were being taken only by the president and general secretary, leaving 16 out of the 21 executive committee members excluded from the process. Many people responded to his post, eager to revitalise the group. 

"Since their election, they haven't held a single meeting. We wanted to end this discrimination," added Rony.

In the wake of the Hasina government's fall and student protests, there's a growing demand for reforms in Bangladesh's entertainment and cultural sectors. Prominent figures in film, theatre, and music are pushing for structural changes to remove political influence and focus on artistes' interests. 

A new coordination team in the Directors Guild and broader calls for overhauls signal the industry's desire for transparency, integrity, and a more artistee-focused environment.

The new coordination team includes drama directors Moniruzzaman Lipon, Musafir Rony, Kamrul Hasan Fuad, and others. This team, alongside 16 previously excluded executive members, plans to hold a general meeting on 13 September.

During the peak of the student movement on 15 July, the Actors' Equity, led by president Ahsan Habib Nasim and general secretary Rawnak Hasan, issued a statement that failed to support the student protests or address the violence and loss of innocent lives.

This stance was met with strong disapproval from many actors, leading some, like Zakia Bari Mamo, to resign from the organisation in protest. Other prominent actors, such as Mosharraf Karim, Azmeri Haque Badhon, and Sabila Nur, also joined the student movement, voicing their dissent. 

In the wake of the Hasina government's fall, there has been a growing demand for reforms within Actors' Equity to ensure it serves the artistes' interests rather than political agendas.

Voicing her opinion for change, Badhon stated, "We need a more supportive environment for women across the workplace, society, and the state. The current structure requires change, including establishing a national acting institution. We must improve actors' social status and address the harm caused by politicisation in entertainment organisations, which need to be reformed." 

On 3 August as the student movement approached victory, a small group, under the Bangladesh Combined Film Council (representing 19 organisations), held a human chain at the BFDC grounds opposing the movement. The event saw participation from only a few film artistes and workers linked to the Awami League, including actress Anjana Rahman, Rokeya Prachy, and others. This action stirred controversy in the film industry, particularly since key organisations like the Directors Association and Exhibitors Association did not attend. In response, leaders of these associations voiced their disapproval, refusing to compromise on their principles. 

Senior actor Shiba Shanu criticised the use of film organisations to oppose the students, arguing it damaged the industry's image.

"It was wrong for film organisations to oppose the students, damaging their reputation. Those who put party agendas above artistes' interests must be held accountable. At the next Film Artistes Association meeting, I'll propose a resolution to honour the martyred students and suggest boycotting partisan members in future elections," she said.

Meanwhile, cultural activists are urging the dissolution of the Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation, Street Theatre Council, United Cultural Council, and Recitation Coordination Council, accusing them of corrupting the cultural sector as tools of the Sheikh Hasina government.

At a 16 August rally outside the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka, leaders like Shah Alam, Kamal Bayezid, and Azad Abul Kalam demanded reforms. Azad Abul Kalam, creative director of Prachyanat, emphasised, "There is an urgent need to revise some policies of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, and I demand that the Shilpakala Academy be reopened immediately," to prevent future misuse of theatre organisations by the government.

Mohammad Ali Haidar, creative director of the drama group BotTola, which supported the student movement from the start, emphasised the need for major reforms in the cultural sector. He stated, "The most significant reform needs to be in the appointment of the Director General of Shilpakala. An honest and impartial person must be appointed, and their deputies should possess similar qualities." 

Haidar also called for the immediate reopening of the Shilpakala Academy and for those who supported the previous government to acknowledge their mistakes. A nationwide gathering of cultural activists is planned for 23 August in Dhaka to develop an action plan.

The push for reforms extends to the music industry as well. At a 13 August press conference organised by the Free artistes' Society, singer Muhin Khan highlighted the need for a Music Regulatory Commission, saying, "Since the birth of Bangladesh, no such commission has been formed. We demand its establishment, believing it will help resolve our issues one by one."

In the wake of the student movement's success on 5 August, calls for broad reforms have intensified across the entertainment sector. After 15 years of Awami League rule, there is a growing demand to remove its influence from the industry and establish a youth-driven, culture-friendly environment.