The fiery songs of Bangladesh protests that dissed Sheikh Hasina

In stark contrast to 'Kotha Koiyo Na', the 2023 Coke Studio Bangla's viral ballad (meaning, do not speak), that struck a chord with Bengalis everywhere, a 2024 viral rap song 'Kotha Ko' (meaning speak up) became an anthem as students in Bangladesh took to the streets to protest against Sheikh Hasina's regime.

While the 2023 Maimansingha Gitika 'Kotha Koiyo Na' was a tender dialogue between two hearts, the 2024 electrifying rap 'Kotha Ko' turned out to be a rallying cry for the masses.

As seen in numerous social media clips, 'Kotha Ko' became a rage across Bangladesh as it demanded accountability from those in power and questioned those who strayed from the path of justice and the ideals of Bangladesh.

'Kotha Ko' received almost 3 million views on YouTube in three weeks. This at a time when Bangladesh has been hit by massive internet curbs, disabling the spread of songs like 'Kotha Ko'.

Much like 'Kotha Ko,' a wave of new-age songs emerged as the battle cry of student protests in Bangladesh, continuing the long-standing tradition of music as a powerful language of dissent in the country.

There was Hannan Hossain Shimul's 'Awaz Utha', Bihan's 'Bangla Maa', Imtiaz Akib's 'Osustho Bangladesh' and Kaaktaal's 'Rokto Gorom Matha Thandaa' among the dozens of fiery songs that coincided with the anti-quota protests that ended up toppling the Sheikh Hasina regime.

SHEZAN'S 'KOTHA KO' REMINDED OF 1952 STRUGGLE

The song by hip-hop artist Shezan, starting with "What's the difference between 1952 and 2024? Speak up", was received as a call for action by the protesting students as it urged all not to be afraid and to fight back against oppression, like Bengalis did in 1952.

The invocation of the struggles of 1952, tried to remind its people when West Pakistan tried to impose Urdu on the Bengalis.

During the 1952 Bangla language movement in East Pakistan, Dhaka University students and activists defied the Pakistani law that tried to snatch their mother tongue from them. The protests that led to police killings of demonstrators, sparked widespread unrest, and after years of struggle, Bangla was given the status of an official language in 1956.

As students and protestors fell prey to the police brutality in July, 'Kotha Ko' was sang to question the state of Bangladesh, about the stark contrast between the promises of independence and the harsh reality on the ground.

The song, without naming Sheikh Hasina, also criticised the hypocrisy of those in power, who "broke the pen with the baton, raised arms in the name of peace", and questioned the legitimacy of leadership that "took the lives of its own people."

Shezan also brought up the word, Razakar, which Sheikh Hasina and some of her partymen used against the protestors, branding them 'anti-national', like the Razakars of 1971, the collaborators of the Pakistani army.

Shezan, in 'Kotha Ko', also mourned the betrayal of the nation's ideals, as the red-green flag, once a symbol of hope, "had now become fully red". A symbolism of bloodshed carried out by Hasina's regime.

AWAAZ UTHA GOT SHIMUL JAILED FOR CALLING LEADERSHIP TYRANT AND TRAITOR

Hannan Hossain Shimul's 'Awaaz Utha' followed suit. It means 'Raise your voice'.

The song encapsulating anger, grief, and determination, actually started with the historic March 7, 1971 speech of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, "Tomader ja kichu ache tai niye prostut shako", meaning, 'stay prepared with whatever you have'.

Hossain's song, which now has over 23 lakh hits, was also a fierce and passionate call for justice that resonated with the spirit of resistance in Bangladesh. The repeated hook, "Raise your voice, Bangladesh", urged the people to speak out against the bloodshed and oppression they witnessed.

His lyrical questions, 'Whose blood stains the streets?' and 'Who killed my brothers and sisters?', even landed him in jail, after the rebel rapper was arrested on July 25 in Narayanganj.

The verses criticised the country's leadership, portraying them as traitors and oppressors.

The sentence, "The tyrant sits in power, enduring many things, talked of Hasina's oppressive rule", while "How much are you selling the country for?" accused her and her regime of betraying the ideals of Bangladesh.

The song also honoured the fallen students and activists; Abu Sayeed, Asif, Rafi, and Wasim Adnan, who made headlines for sacrificing their lives, voicing their protests.

This too became a battle cry for the protesters, who saw it as another call to action, to stand up against the status quo, and demand a better future.

Shimul, who some said had provoked Hasina with 'Awaz Utha', was released from jail only after she resigned and fled Bangladesh on August 5.

'DESH TA TOMAR BAPER NAKI' BY ETHUN BABU AND MAUSUMI

It was not just the new-age powerful anthems asking Bangladeshis to 'speak up'. The older ones, released some months ago, like "Desh ta tomar baaper naki" by Ethun Babu and Mausumi, also made a comeback.

The 2023 song also became the soundtrack that the protesters would play to fuel the passion and determination of the protesters.

The songs' blunt message of defiance struck a chord.

"Desh ta tomar baaper naki", meaning 'Does the country belong to your father', became another anthem. The mention of the 'country', 'the father', and that too 'whose father' in the song likely needed no introduction to the protestors.

They knew who they were asking as they hummed.

With catchy and familiar folk tunes and animated public performances, Ethun and Mausumi provoked thoughts through lyrics asking people to take action. Many of them saw it as a reflexion of their own thoughts.

The duo reminded the listeners that the nation of Bangladesh was won through bloodshed and expressed a firm resolve to protect it at any cost, saying, "We won this country through war, by shedding blood. We are ready to shed blood again."

DHONO DHANNO PLAYED UP NOSTALGIA TOO

While new-age hip-hop raps gained popularity during the protests, the OG anthem of Bengali nationalism, 'Dhono Dhanno Pushpe Bhora', also found its rightful place in the protests, as mounting dissent and calls for Hasina's resignation echoed across the nation.

On August 3, 2024, just days before Sheikh Hasina's resignation, the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka became an epicentre amid the surrounding bloodshed.

Dwijendralal Roy's 'Dhono Dhanne Pushpe Bhora', which echoed in 1905, was right there.

The song, first hummed during the Partition of Bengal, made a remarkable resurgence as drone footage captured thousands of students and protesters standing in the lanes and bylanes around the Shaheed Minar, and the song was heard.

"Emon desh ti kothao khuje pabe nako tumi, shokol desher rani she je amar jonmobhoomi", meaning "You won't find such a nation anywhere else. It is the queen of all nations, it is my birthplace", could be heard as the crowd gathered.

In the end, as the streets of Dhaka reverberated with the beats of rebellion, it became clear that in Bangladesh, silence of oppression is never golden, and music, once again, became the voice of the nation's heart.