Says Farhad Mazhar: Feel the Pain of the Poor, Or You Will Be Blown Away

Poet and thinker Farhad Mazhar believes that the dream of state formation envisioned during the July uprising has not yet been realized. He advised the Prime Minister of the current government, Tarique Rahman, to understand the "pain of the poor."

Speaking at a protest rally at the Shah Ali Mazar in Mirpur today, Sunday, Farhad Mazhar said, "Without bards, there will be no revolution; without bards, a state or society cannot be formed. Another name of a bard is who is a 'living dead'—how can you kill them? Those who took to the streets and stood before bullets during the '24 uprising had also resembled bards."

Explaining why he stands by these "bard," Farhad Mazhar said, "I am trying to help build a state that is safe for life, the environment, and nature. But despite sacrificing lives on August 5, we did not get that state."

Addressing Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Farhad Mazhar said, "You are the son of Begum Khaleda Zia. Try to understand the pain of the poor people of this country. Otherwise, you will be blown away."

Last Thursday night, an attack took place at the Shah Ali Mazar in Mirpur. Police reported that three individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident.

On Sunday, the Sadhuguru Bhakta O Oli-Aulia Ashokan Parishad and Bhabboithoki organized a protest rally on the shrine premises to condemn the attack on devotees and followers.

Speaking at the rally, Pritam Das of the National Citizen Party (NCP) said the government could take action if it wanted to. However, he claimed that these attacks are increasing precisely because of the government's silence.

Another NCP leader, Sarwar Tushar, stated that there is no need to look at the political identity of those who come to attack shrines; they must be resisted. He alleged that the attack was provoked by the police and that the police cannot evade responsibility. He demanded a neutral inquiry commission to investigate all attacks on shrines over the past two years and to take action against those responsible.

AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Manju said, "Our views and paths may be different. Our religious beliefs may be different. But we must fight together against the oppressor."

Poet Mohammad Romel, one of the organizers of the rally, said that just as mosques and temples cannot be attacked, no shrine should be targeted either. He said that the interim Yunus government took no initiative to stop attacks on shrines, and now the responsible figures of the current government are also failing to take effective steps to prevent them.

Romel viewed the attack, which occurred just two days before the start of the annual Urs at the Shah Ali Mazar on May 19, as planned. He said, "An attack on the Shah Ali Mazar is an attack on shrines all over Bangladesh. To extinguish the fire lit by this attack, action must be taken against those involved."