Govt changeover after-effects Vandalism prompts closure of Chandpur Shilpakala Academy

OUR CORRESPONDENT

CHANDPUR, Sept 12: Chandpur Shilpakala Academy, the district-level state-sponsored cultural centre, has been kept shuttered down over one and a half

months ago following vandalism in the aftermath of the changeover of the Sheikh Hasina-led autocratic regime.

Non-functioning of the Academy for the prevailing situation has brought the cultural activities on its premises to a standstill and thrown the district cultural arena into a complete disarray eventually.

The Academy being the only seat for cultural practices in the district town, all sorts of cultural events used to be organised here marking various national occasions and artistes used to carry out rehearsal of their cultural activities amid enthusiasm and comfort in the afternoons or evenings.

Contacted, Assistant Deputy Commissioner (General) Bashir Ahmed told the FE, ''Miscreants massively vandalised the academy after the fall of the Awami League government, and we visited it later."

Since then, the institute has remained shut after it was locked by the Academy's cultural officer Deeti Saha.

This long-time shutdown of the district Shilpakala Academy has thrown the local cultural enthusiasts, artistes and cultural activists out of gear.

Gathering and gossiping and rehearsal of cultural activists are no more order of the day in the cultural arena here.

In the Academy, every afternoon and evening, cultural events used to be held regularly amid enthusiasm, fun and frolics.

It was observed, most valuable things and infrastructures in the Academy were massively damaged by the angry mob during vandalism.

A rough estimate shows that several lakhs of taka is needed to repair or renovate the institute and replace the damaged things.

The cultural officer said Chandpur is home to as many as forty leading cultural organisations.

According to cultural activists- Harun Al Rashid and others, this long-time shut-down of the Shilpakala Academy has disheartened the cultural activists and culture-lovers.

And there are about 1,000 members of the cultural bodies. They all are sitting idle for the closure of the Academy.

It was widely alleged by many cultural activists (who preferred to disclose names) that before the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, many government-backed cultural leaders along with activists organised protest meetings and formed human chains in front of this Academy vehemently condemning the then countrywide student-mass movement, that at that time reached the peak across the country.

So in the wake of the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, mob did not spare Chandpur Shilpakala Academy too. They vandalised the Academy massively in the evening of August 5, the day when Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled the country.

Talking to the FE, Deeti Saha said a detailed report narrating the vandalism was sent to the higher authorities through the district administration.

She expressed the hope that all cultural activities will resume very soon and the Academy premises will be humming with cultural activities afresh after the repair and renovation work of the damaged infrastructure and things.

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