Political and cultural activists said on Saturday that cultural movements, aligned with political movements, generate people-oriented artists and writers.

They also said that the 11-point programme in1969 created a mass-uprising and the cultural movement of the uprising created the cultural backdrop of the Bengali nationalist movement, which led to the war of independence in 1971.

They made the remarks at a discussion titled 1969 Er Gana-Abhyutthaner Sanskritik Tatparjya, organised by Ganotantrik Sanskritik Oikya at the seminar hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

The discussion was chaired by Ganotantrik Sanskritik Oikya convenor Jamshed Anwer Tapan, while former assistant general secretary of the erstwhile East Pakistan Students’ Union Deepa Dutta, Rafiqul Hasan Khan Jinnah and Shamsuzzaman Milon spoke at the event.

General Secretary of Bibartan Sangskritik Kendra, Mofijur Rahman Laltu, delivered a welcome speech at the discussion while leaders of the Ganotantrik Sanskritik Oikya also spoke regarding issues and the future of political and cultural movements of Bangladesh after another student-led mass uprising that took place in 2024.

Rafiqul Hasan Khan Jinnah said that the cultural movement after 1952 in East Pakistan had a deep connection with the people, which created a mass-uprising in 1969 and led to the war of independence in 1971.

‘Most of the cultural activists were deeply connected with the people and formed many cultural organisations including Chhayanaut, Udichi and Kranti,’ said Jinnah, adding that the Awami League politicians spread false information about the ’69 uprising, especially the death of Shaheed Asad.

Deepa Dutta said that the history of 69 uprising was not documented properly due to the dominance of Awami League activists after the independence of the country.