Media professionals representing different sectors—film, television, theatre, photography, and more—came together for a protest march as a varied group demonstrating support for the anti-discrimination student movement's nine demands, on Thursday at the Farmgate intersection in the capital.

Although the protest, under the banner of ‘Drisshyamaddhyam Shilpi Shomaj’, was supposed to be held this march at Manik Mia Avenue in front of the National Parliament building, the police protested the attendees.

However, showcasing their steadfast devotion to the cause, the artists moved to the Farmgate intersection from Manik Mia Avenue and expressed their inner voices throughout the demonstration despite the continuous rainfall.

Several prominent artists, including actors Mamunur Rashid, Mosharraf Karim, Azmeri Haque Badhon, Siam Ahmed, Sabila Nur, Iresh Zaker, Rafiath Rashid Mithila, Nazia Haque Orsha, Shyamol Mawla, Mostofa Monwar, and others; notable directors including Amitabh Reza Chowdhury, Ashfaque Nipun, Nurul Alam Atique, Redoan Rony, Adnan Al Rajeev, Piplu R Khan, Matia Banu Shuku, Nuhash Humayun, Abrar Athar, Tanim Noor, Shankha Das Gupta, Syed Ahmed Shawki, and others; eminent photojournalist Shahidul Alam, art curator and social activist Amirul Rajiv, popular singers Probar Ripon, Armeen Musa, and many more joined the protest gathering.

The cultural personalities emphasised in their remarks that they wanted mass arrests to stop, legal action against the demonstrators to stop, and justice for the students slain in the quota reform demonstrations.

“We cannot sit at home at this point, given the current state of affairs in our nation. We desire harmony; this insane level of bloodshed is not something we want to see. We are just regular individuals, myself included, and we desire harmony,” said the web series ‘Mohanagar’-famed popular actor Mosharraf Karim.

Ashfaque Nipun, the director of the aforementioned ‘Mohanagar’ series, which demonstrated the corruption in the state’s policing system, strongly raised his voice against the oppression of students both virtually and also here in the protest. “From the bottom of my heart, I salute all the martyrs representing the students who have been fighting for their logical rights. People say we are standing with the students, I believe it’s the vice-versa; as they made us think and raise our united voices,” he said.

‘Rehana Maryam Noor'—famous popular actress Azmeri Haque Badhon said: “I am a citizen of this country, I do not have any other passport or citizenship, and I have not slept ever since I saw how innocent students were mercilessly shot down and murdered. We stand in solidarity with the students, we want justice for their murder.”
Popular actor Siam Ahmed said, “Even little children have been shot and killed in this brutality. I have a little son at home, what will I say years later when he will be a grown man and ask me about what I have done as a citizen and artist in these dire straits? I am here to answer that question.”

Filmmaker Amitabh Reza Chowdhury said, “We know we are late to raise our voices, but better late than never. The fear has to be gone, the nine-point demand of the students must be answered, and justice must be served.”

It was said from the protest gathering that the artists will continue their protest event and will hold a rally in front of the Abahani Club grounds on Satmasjid Road in Dhanmondi on Friday also at 11 am.