Cultural advisor Mostafa Sorwar Faruki has been accused by Bangladeshi cultural workers of being a neo-fascist, with calls for his immediate resignation. They claim that if Faruki does not step down, the destruction of arts and culture in the country is inevitable. The protesters have also demanded that Syed Jamil Ahmed, the former Director General (DG) of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, provide proof that he did not ask for any financial compensation.
These allegations were made during a protest meeting held after Syed Jamil Ahmed’s resignation from the DG position of the Shilpakala Academy. In his resignation speech last Friday, Ahmed accused the Ministry of Culture and its advisor of interfering in the affairs of the arts sector. His resignation and the subsequent protests have sparked widespread criticism.
The rally, organized under the banner of ‘People’s Aspirations of Mass Uprising, No Compromise with Bureaucracy, Ensure the Autonomy of the Arts,’ was held in front of the Shilpakala Academy. Prominent figures such as journalist Sakhawat Assad, student and theatre worker Al Mamun, student union president Ragib Naeem, and photographer Mariam Rupa spoke at the event.
The speakers criticized the rise of individuals like Faruki, claiming that they are exploiting their positions for personal gain, and that such figures did not emerge from any mass uprising for the people. They stated that Faruki’s actions were a deliberate attempt to destroy the country’s film industry and are now undermining the broader cultural landscape of Bangladesh.
They also warned that if Faruki is not removed from his position, the country’s culture will be pushed to the brink of collapse. The protesters demanded the immediate removal of Faruki from the Ministry of Culture and the reinstatement of Syed Jamil Ahmed as the DG of the Academy.
However, Faruki remains in power and has used his position to accuse Dr. Syed Jamil Ahmed of baseless claims, asserting that the former DG was not perfect in his role.