‘Shame on you’, Sadia Ayman addresses artistes visiting BTV

Last Thursday, artistes from visual media held a rally in Farmgate, Dhaka showing solidarity with the protestors of the quota reform movement. The rally was organised to protest the government's harsh crackdown on the quota reform movement and the killing of students and civilians by gunfire. From the rally, the artistes demanded justice for the killings. Meanwhile, on the same day, artistes and directors from the film, drama, and music industries visited Bangladesh Television (BTV), which was damaged by fire in connection with the violence during the movement. During the visit, the artists demanded that those responsible for the destruction at BTV be identified and brought to justice.

Talented actress Sadia Ayman expressed disappointment with the artistes who visited the BTV premises instead of protesting the killing of ordinary students.

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"The once-popular actors and actresses shed tears at the BTV premises. Of course, their lives and careers are closely intertwined with memories of BTV. Their sorrow might be natural. But so many students, children, mothers, sisters, and ordinary people died, and they didn't say a word about it! Not once did they express remorse. Not once did they demand justice for these killings. Why?"—wrote Sadia on her Facebook on Friday.

Sadia also explained the possible reasons for the silence of some artistes in her status. She stated, "The reason is that those who lost their lives in this movement are not one of you. You won't benefit from them or their families, you won't gain any interest or power. Is that it? The words you said in front of the camera, thinking about your own gains and losses, for the sake of power or to show someone, will remain in the archive forever and will also stay in our minds."

Sadia expressed disappointment at the actions of some of the artistes whose work she grew up watching in the 90s. She wrote that she is "astonished and ashamed."
At the end of her long post, the "Mayashalik" actress wrote, "Generations will know that we were amazed by those actors' performances on TV screens in the 90s, but now we are astonished and ashamed by their real-life actions! It is with sadness that I say respect for you may never return."