Entertainment Desk:
In a poignant call to action, revered cultural figures Ramendu
Majumdar and Ferdousi Mazumder have urged cultural activists to
extend their support to the millions affected by the catastrophic floods
sweeping across 11 districts of Bangladesh, including Feni and Cumilla.
The floods have trapped over 1 million families and impacted
approximately 5.2 million people, leaving a trail of devastation in their
wake. So far, 18 lives have been lost, and two people remain
unaccounted for.
On Sunday, the veteran couple, known for contributing to Bangladesh's
cultural landscape, released a deeply resonating joint statement,
passionately appealing to their fellow cultural workers to rise to the
occasion, "We appeal to all cultural activists—our country is in the
grasp of a severe disaster. The most catastrophic flood in recent
memory has endangered millions of lives.
"In the past, we, as cultural workers, actively participated in relief
efforts during every natural disaster. Although our age prevents us from
being on the front lines, we are still trying to help through various
organisations."

Their message highlights not only the gravity of the situation but also
the historical role that cultural workers have played in Bangladesh's
resilience during times of crisis. They added, "Many of our fellow
cultural workers are already involved in relief efforts on their own.
However, if we can collectively gather funds in one place, it would
greatly aid in post-flood rehabilitation efforts."
"We sincerely call for a meeting where young cultural activists can lead
the initiative to establish a fund. We, as seniors, will support them to
the best of our abilities. The collected funds can be donated to the
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus' Relief Fund or to an organisation
actively working on the ground."
They emphasised the importance of unity and collective action,
particularly in the face of such a widespread disaster by stating, "If
possible, cultural activists can also directly engage in rehabilitation
work. We hope our younger colleagues will take urgent steps in this
direction. Together, we believe we can overcome this disaster."