Role of artists in liberation war still unrecognised: Speakers
They urged the government to include the names of artists in the list of freedom fighters
Artists played a great role in the country's liberation war but their contributions have not been recognised properly.
Addressing a programme of Liberation War Museum (LWM) on Saturday, speakers urged the government to include the names of artists in the list of freedom fighters.
"Artists also fought in the country's Liberation War in 1971 through depicting the war in their artworks. And their fight was as important as the fight on the battlefield. But the government has not yet properly recognised the contribution of the artists to the liberation war," alleged writer and cultural activist Shahriar Kabir.
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"It is a characteristic of the artists that they do not write anything about themselves," he said, adding, "We have taken steps to write their oral history to document their contribution to the liberation war."
In the programme, renowned artists and writers of the country donated grants and artworks to the museum.
LWM Trustee Dr Sarwar Ali said during the liberation war, singers and painters played an important role. Their works supported our country in raising public opinion in favour of the liberation war and against the genocide.
"In 1971, the Shilpi-Sahityik-Buddhijibi Samity arranged an exhibition in India with paintings by our artists. Among those works, LWM is getting some paintings today. Besides some grants, we are also getting some valuable books and records which would be helpful to researchers of the Liberation War," he added.
Besides the paintings of seven renowned artists, the museum also got a letter written by Begum Sufia Kamal. She wrote the letter to freedom fighter Sultana Kamal and her sister while the liberation war was ongoing.
Further, the museum got a ceiling fan used by martyred intellectual Dr Ajharul Hoque, valuable records of the liberation war donated by Merry Fancies Denham, recording of martyred intellectual Dr Fazle Rabbi and books of Golam Mohammad.
Businessman Mir Nasir Hossen provided a grant of Tk60 lakh to the museum. Other people also provided different amounts of grants on the day.
Sara Zaker, a trustee and member secretary of LWM, urged the audience to raise more funds to keep the museum running.
