“Neglected Kutubdia, my birthplace,
Without development, we are denied our rights.
While golden images of progress shine across Bangladesh,
Kutubdia floats helplessly in the sea —
Let there be protest, let there be protest, we demand freedom!”
With these emotional lyrics, a group of young artists from Kutubdia waded into the seawater, their bare chests and backs painted with protest slogans, demanding the urgent construction of a sustainable embankment for their island.
The symbolic protest took place on Saturday, April 26, from morning until 1 PM at the crumbling embankment area adjacent to the Ali Akbar Dale Wind Power Project.
Speaking at the event, artist Shaheen Abrar said, “Every monsoon season, tidal waters submerge our homes, farmland — even the graveyards. We are suffering. Despite the country’s massive strides in development, people must know how neglected we remain. That’s why we chose to protest through songs and visual performances.”
The young artists called for the island’s 40-kilometer embankment to be upgraded into a “super dyke,” reinforced with afforestation on both sides. They also demanded strict measures to curb corruption in the construction process to ensure long-term protection for their vulnerable community.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Courtesy
