A two-day “Banglar Pishach Mela and Cultural Programme” was held on August 14 and 15 at the Swoparjito Swadhinata Square near the TSC of Dhaka University. The Revolutionary Cultural Unity, a coalition of 65 cultural organisations, arranged the event to symbolically portray aspects of exploitation, repression and authoritarianism during the previous government’s rule through art and culture. The fair opened at 10am on Friday.

Writer, researcher and columnist Dr Mahbub Hasan attended the opening as chief guest. Professor Shahidul Zahid, Nasim Ahmed, Shayla Nasim, Mrinmoy Mizan, Munshi Borhan Mahmud, Shamim Hasan and Duke Huda were among those present. Speakers said cultural expression was important for presenting incidents of exploitation, repression and political suppression from the previous government’s period to younger generations.

Organisers said the displayed figures were presented as “pishach,” or demons, through symbolic artworks. A contest asked visitors to identify the characters and submit the highest number of names through Revolutionary Cultural Unity’s Facebook page, with prizes planned for winners. The programme also included recitations, songs and other performances of indigenous culture on Saturday afternoon.