2024-10-04 10:58:35
Vocalist Anik Sutradhar first came into discussion after participating in the singing reality show ‘Young Star’. During the anti-discrimination student movement, he rose to great discussion by singing the song titled ‘Tumi Ke Ami Ke Razakar Razakar’. Then he fell under the wrath of the leaders and workers of the then ruling party. Anik was forced to go into hiding. Singer Anik Sutradhar spoke to RisingBD about those miserable days.
RisingBD: A song changed your life. Why was the song sung during the movement?
Anik: Originally, the song was ‘Tumi Ke Ami Ke Razakar Razakar’. I chose the song because of the student movement at that time. Singing of the song by the students. I sang the song for a just demand; So that the movement of students is more rapid. Later the song became a political issue.
RisingBD: Who is the original composer of this song?
Anik: The song is written by Tasrif (Tasrif Khan) Bhai. I gave the tune and voice. I have suffered for almost a month due to singing the song. My family is suffering. I could not get out anywhere; Had to cover up.
RisingBD: I want to know the reason for hiding.
Anik: The song became very popular within a short time of singing. After the release of the song, calls started coming from the ideological leaders of the then government in my area. Then they kept pressing why I sang this song. After that, senior officials of the then government also received calls on my number. Pressure kept coming, they talked about various issues.
RisingBD: Did you receive death threats?
Anik: no I have not received any death threats. But I was afraid. What happens when! At that time, Hannan Bhai was remanded for 13 days for singing protest songs. Then those who protested were tracked down. Especially those of us who were content creators, there was a lot of pressure. Due to which I had to keep myself safe at that time. I was in fear of having an attack whenever I went out. Those who pressured me, they would probably beat me! He could have taken it somewhere and kept it as a prisoner. I was afraid because of these reasons.
RisingBD: Where were you hiding?
Anik: I was staying at a relative’s house. But I will not tell the name of the place where I was. Where I was there is also a matter of safety. I don’t want to endanger those who have helped in the day of trouble. As far as I can tell, it was a border area.
RisingBD: What was your family’s reaction after singing the song?
Anik: At first, everyone took the matter negatively. Everyone was saying, why did you dare to sing this song? It is an anti-government song. But my intention was not against the government. My intention was, through this song to reform the quota; I sang the song from that thought.
RisingBD: How did being in hiding affect your family?
Anik: It didn’t affect my family much. Because I had no contact with my family while in hiding. They didn’t even know my family members well. But the pressure came on my friends. He wanted to know if anyone knows about me, where I am, which number I am using. He tried repeatedly to contact me.
RisingBD: How did you spend your time in hiding?
Anik: I was completely housebound. It was a suffocating situation. I couldn’t get out anywhere. For me as an artist it is a big hell. Had to stay indoors all the time. Where I can’t live a day without singing, can’t live without going out. But at that time I was under house arrest, which means it was a completely suffocating situation. In fact, I could not think that I would come back alive, I would be able to come out in front of people. I was afraid every moment.
RisingBD: When did you come out of hiding?
Anik: I sang the song on July 16. The song became very popular within 5-6 hours of singing. The pressure started coming that night. I had to bhagat (escape) that night. And I came public the day after the fall of the then government. Means the day after August 5.
RisingBD: Want to say something to the government?
Anik: Every artist should protest injustice from his own place. The government should give artists freedom of speech to protest injustice. We should not be under any threat. In every artist’s life, bad times will come, singing, good times will come, singing. This is the religion of every artist. An artist does not have any caste, religion or caste. Today there is no Awami League or BNP. Those who do bad things will get their results. And the artist will bring it out. This is the rule and so be it. One request, artistes should not be pressured, beaten, threatened with death, arrested or remanded.
RisingBD: How do you want Bangladesh?
Anik: I want a very good Bangladesh for the future, that there will be no violence and hatred in Bangladesh.