After hours of delay caused by persistent rain, the much-anticipated drone show 'Do You Miss Me' was presented late Tuesday night at Manik Mia Avenue as part of the July Uprising Day commemoration events.
Organised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs under the banner of July Reawakening, the 12-minute show synchronised display using 1,100 drones—began at 11 pm, drawing thousands of spectators who had been waiting through the daylong music festival despite the drizzle and shifting schedules.
Originally scheduled for 7:30 pm, the performance faced repeated rescheduling due to the adverse weather. By the time it began, many attendees had already left, soaked by the rain.
Those who stayed, however, were treated to a stunning visual narrative that blended technology with pointed political commentary.
The sky show opened with the image of a hand holding a placard reading “Do You Miss Me,” followed by a glowing, grotesque portrayal of the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s face. As the image emerged, many shouted slogans in protest.
Subsequent scenes depicted the former leader fleeing by helicopter, accompanied by the phrase “Bangladesh is doing fine without the killer.” The drone drama continued with visual references to alleged state repression, including iron cages symbolising detention cells in the notorious ‘Aayna Ghor’, and the story of slain councillor Ekram and his daughter’s emotional words: “Daddy, why are you crying?”
Images of victims like Abrar Fahad were also invoked, with messages such as “No one needs to die for speaking about the country’s sovereignty.” The performance moved on to critique financial scandals and political censorship, displaying figures such as Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana and Salman F Rahman.
Acknowledging the critics in a humorous, satirical and self-deprecating way, a particular message showed: "People once deleted posts out of fear of the killer regime —
now the government deletes posts out of fear of the people.”
The finale carried an optimistic tone, with messages like “We know the path to a fascism-free nation is long” and “Together, we will build Bangladesh 2.0.”
Earlier in the day, the rain-soaked venue hosted several performances by renowned solo and group artists, including several popular band acts, as part of the broader July Uprising celebration.
Despite the interruptions, the drone show delivered a powerful close to the day’s events, merging art, protest, and cutting-edge technology in a striking public display.
