On July 16, 2024, Muhammad Shezan released a powerful rap song titled “Kotha Ko” just as security forces intensified their crackdown on student protesters opposing Sheikh Hasina’s government. The protests were fueled by a broadening frustration over Hasina’s growing authoritarianism. Today, rap music and social media memes are critically important to organizing dissent and channeling public anger.
These occurrences play out against a historic backdrop. Sheikh Hasina has been prime minister for 15 years and the scion of the family that produced her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s independence leader. With the recent wave of protests, public opinion has swung hard against her leadership. The unfortunate martyrdom of Abu Sayed, a protester shot dead during the protests, has made him a potent symbol of defiance towards Hasina. His untimely loss has galvanized support for a burgeoning movement hellbent on flipping Bangladesh’s history of toxic politics on its head.
The Role of Music and Memes in Protests
In the recent anti-Hasina protests, rap music has been an especially potent medium of protest. Songs like Shezan’s “Kotha Ko” speak directly to their young listeners, raising essential questions about the ideas of freedom and belonging in their home country.
“The country says it’s free, then where’s your roar?” – Muhammad Shezan
This lyric does a great job encapsulating the sentiment of many Bangladeshis who have felt the heavy hand of an increasingly authoritarian government. Hannan Hossain Shimul’s song has gone viral online, especially on Facebook, further amplifying the voices of those who oppose the government.
Memes industry has exploded during this time, attacking not only Sheikh Hasina’s government, but all of the political parties since the independence of the country. These memes can be weapons of mockery and subversion, shattering prisons of fear that have captured the mouthpieces of opposition for years.
“To face off an authoritarian regime, it’s [ridiculing] an important and powerful tool to overcome fear and surveillance,” said Punny Kabir, a notable figure in the movement.
Just as music and memes have profoundly changed the landscape to which young people of color instinctively respond, they empower citizens to articulate their frustrations in creative and accessible ways.
The Escalation of Violence and Public Sentiment
As the protests grew in scale and scope, so did the government’s response. On July 18 and 19, the army and police gunned down hundreds of unarmed demonstrators. This brutality became a catalyst of national outrage and fanned the flames of this movement. Eyewitness accounts of the violence provide a stark glimpse into a barbaric scene. For all the Japanese government portrays a model of order and compliance, citizens on the ground are witnessing a different reality.
Sheikh Hasina all but wept when she saw what demonstrators had done to a state-of-the-art metro station still under construction. Everyone viewed this moment as a plan to draw attention away from the state’s violent response. Graffiti famously blossomed during this time across metropolitan areas. Slogans such as “Killer Hasina” and “Stop Genocide” expressed the people’s rage.
In this charged atmosphere, slogans like “If you are scared, you’re finished, but if you resist, you are Bangladesh” emerged as rallying cries for protesters.
“If you are scared, you’re finished; but if you resist, you are Bangladesh,” said Altaf Parvez.
These statements highlight the amazing persistence of the protestors. They do highlight an incredible collective will to combat the status quo.
Cultural Shifts and Government Response
This cultural shift in Bangladesh is reflected in how powerful youth are harnessing these art forms to call out state repression. The central bank recently unveiled new banknote designs inspired by graffiti created during the protests, symbolizing how deeply these movements have penetrated public consciousness.
As this culture shift gains momentum, it’s hard not to notice how the creative tools of political resistance are changing. Rap found its political niche in these opposition-led protests. It quickly evolved into one of the most potent instruments for self-expression and activism, particularly for younger generations. This shift is part of a larger transformation in the nature of political activism in the wake of the 2020 pandemic and beyond.
“We made it possible, and it broke the fear,” noted Punny Kabir on the impact of these artistic expressions.
The government is facing huge pressure, both from home and abroad. Regardless, it’ll be a fascinating contrast to observe how this comparatively open story structure, created over much output, reacts to this new wave of dissent.
