Artists protest against tree felling

Aug 01, 2023

An artist stages a performance art protesting against the felling of trees by Dhaka South City Corporation at Dhanmondi in the capital on Tuesday. — Md Saurav

Artists raised awareness against the felling of trees in the capital's Dhanmondi and elsewhere staging performance art in front of Abahani playground in Dhanmondi on Tuesday.

Satmasjid Sarak Gachh Rakkha Andolan arranged the event against the felling of trees on the road divider of Satmasjid Road for development work by Dhaka South City Corporation.

Twelve performance artists, namely Sumona Akter, Abu Naser Robi, Syed Muhammad Zakir, Ashikul Islam Rahat, Afsana Sharmin Jhumpa, Imran Sohail, Sanjid Mahmud, Farah Naz Moon, Suman Biswas, Tamim, Faria Khanum Tuly and Jewel A Rob staged performance art at the event.

‘We have been protesting at the felling of trees by the authorities concerned for a few weeks. A number of performance artists come together today to raise awareness about the necessity of trees in the city. We think that the government should not cut down trees in the name of development projects because the climate is changing and the Dhaka is becoming unliveable day by day. We have to protect the environment,’ said artist Sumona Akter.

Artist Imran Sohail walked the street wearing an oxygen mask and holding a chanting bowl in his hand. Two bricks were tied to his body symbolising concrete-based development projects and the chanting bowl represented nature and peace. The performer depicted him as the planet and the oxygen mask represented the artificial oxygen supply at intensive care units of hospitals in the absence of trees.

Water-hyacinth covered the whole body of Artist Faria Khanum Tuly while she staged a performance titled Worship of Green.

‘Artists have been participating in programmes for 42 consecutive days to protest against the felling of trees on the Satmasjid Road. People from all walks of life, students, and different socio-cultural organisations are also participating in the protest programmes,’ said artist and curator Amirul Rajiv, one of the coordinators of the programme.

‘The temperature of Dhaka is too high now and Dhaka's air quality is still unhealthy but the authorities concerned are carrying out development projects felling trees. They are cutting down big trees on the streets and planting bonsai or flowers for decorating streets,’ said Tonny Shome, a local resident in Dhanmondi.

Earlier, green activists and local residents in Dhanmondi formed human chains from May 5 to May 7 protesting at the DSCC's move to cut around 200 trees on the road divider of Satmasjid Road for development work.

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