Cultural organisation Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi organised a musical procession this afternoon to protest the government’s decision to drop music and physical education (PE) teacher posts in primary schools.
The procession, titled “Udichi to Jamuna”, began at 5:00pm from Udichi’s central office on Topkhana Road and was heading towards the Chief Adviser’s residence, Jamuna.
Before the procession started, Udichi organisers delivered speeches criticising the government’s move. Rahman Mofiz, Udichi’s assistant general secretary, said, “On the day the July Charter was declared, Dr Yunus said we are moving from barbarism to civilisation. But I will say, by scrapping the plan of music and PE teacher posts, the government is instead taking the country back to barbarism.”
Arif Noor, Udichi’s organising secretary, condemned the decision, alleging it was made under pressure from “communal forces.”
The procession began with the song “Karar Oi Louho Kopat”, but was obstructed by police in front of the gate of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. After facing police obstruction, the procession advanced a short distance before organisers decided to suspend the programme in front of the YMCA office in Segunbagicha.