Veteran actor Abul Hayat has strongly criticized the recent wave of arrests and legal harassment faced by artists in Bangladesh following the fall of the Hasina government during the July student movement. Speaking at the Actors’ Association’s Abhishek and Family Day event at the Chittagong Hill Tracts Complex on May 31, Hayat expressed deep concern over what he described as unjust and humiliating treatment of artists.
He highlighted how several cases—many allegedly false—have been filed under the current interim government, with some artists arrested without evidence and remanded immediately. “There is no message, no explanation—artists are taken away in handcuffs,” he said.
Calling for stronger legal protections and a proactive role from the Actors’ Association’s legal committee, Hayat emphasized that while any proven crime must be punished, arrests without due process are unacceptable. He urged both organizations and the government to ensure fairness and accountability.
Reflecting on the past, Hayat spoke fondly of his mentors and urged young actors to embrace learning and respect for senior artists. Now 82, Hayat continues to contribute to the industry, most recently in the film Daymukti, released earlier this year.
