11 cultural groups condemn arrest of Asaduzzaman Noor

Former Awami League lawmaker and renowned cultural personality Asaduzzaman Noor was arrested on Sunday night in connection with a murder case in Mirpur, and 11 cultural groups have condemned the arrest of Noor on Tuesday.

The organizations expressed shock in a joint statement, delivered by Sammilita Sangskritik Jote General Secretary M Ahkam Ullah, and demanded his unconditional and immediate release from the "false allegation."

The 11 organizations that issued the statement are Sammilita Sangskritik Jote, Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation, Bangladesh Recitation Coordination Council, Bangladesh Pothonatak Parishad, Bangladesh Dance Artists Association, Bangladesh Charushilpi Sangsad, Bangladesh Gana Sangeet Coordination Council, ITI Bangladesh Centre, Bangladesh Gram Theatre, Bangladesh Jatra Industry Development Council, and Bangladesh Children‍‍`s Organization Unity Alliance.

The statement reads, “One of the leading cultural personalities and thespian in the country, Asaduzzaman Noor, also the President of Bangladesh Abritti Samannay Parishad and advisory council member of Sammilita Sangskritik Jote, was arrested on Sunday night in connection with a murder case in Mirpur. The arrest of Asaduzzaman Noor has surprised and worried the common people of the country, including cultural activists. “

“11 morchas consisting of different cultural organizations of the country, including the Sammilita Sangskritik Jote, are condemning and protesting the arrest and also demanding his immediate and unconditional release,” the statement concludes.

Asaduzzaman Noor has represented the Awami League in Parliament since 2001. He was elected as the Member of Parliament for Nilphamari-2 in the most recent 12th National Parliament elections. He assumed the role of Cultural Affairs Minister on January 13, 2014, following the Awami League’s victory in the 10th National Parliament elections held on January 5, 2013, and continued his full term till January 7, 2019.

Noor is, to date, the last Cultural Affairs Minister of the country; as both of his successors KM Khalid and Naheed Ezaher Khan, took over the Ministry’s charges as State Ministers.