Renowned musician James and Partha Barua have publicly voiced their support for the ongoing student protests. Both stars have taken significant steps to stand in solidarity with the students, marking a notable shift in their typically reserved public personas.
James, the celebrated frontman of Nagar Baul, is known for his enigmatic public presence. However, this time, he has made a striking statement in response to the student protests and the recent violence.
On Thursday, James shared a poignant image of Bangladesh’s map against a red background on Facebook. This image, posted at 5:07 pm, is a powerful symbol of solidarity, reflecting the widespread social media movement where users have turned their profile pictures and cover photos red in support of the students. The post quickly garnered thousands of reactions from his followers.
Simultaneously, Partha Barua expressed his concerns through a Facebook post. He stated, "I don't think we should stay silent any longer." This statement resonated widely, accumulating 22,000 reactions, over 3,300 comments, and 1,600 shares, showcasing the impact of his support.
Earlier this week, other prominent bands also made headlines with their responses to the quota reform movement. On Wednesday, heavy metal band Cryptic Fate announced their decision to withdraw from the upcoming Joy Bangla concert. They expressed their stance with a message on Facebook, stating, "As a band that sings about patriotism, the Liberation War, and fighting against injustice, how can we now think of performing at the next Joy Bangla concert? Our answer is, 'No.'"
Following suit, rock band Nemesis also announced their withdrawal from the Joy Bangla concert in a heartfelt Facebook post. They cited the recent troubling events as the reason for their decision, declaring, "In light of the events over the past two weeks, it’s evident that we will never perform at a Joy Bangla concert again."
Adding to the growing list, hard rock band Arbovirus also voiced their solidarity by announcing they would not participate in any future Joy Bangla concerts. Their Facebook statement reinforced their stance, echoing the sentiment of other bands against the backdrop of the ongoing student protests.
