As Bangladesh heads into a crucial election year, musician Hamin Ahmed has shifted public attention towards an often-overlooked issue: the place of arts and culture in national policymaking. The veteran Miles guitarist and composer has sparked a fresh debate by urging political parties to recognise music as a vital cultural industry rather than a mere source of entertainment.
While political discussions have intensified ahead of the Election Commission’s schedule announcement this week, Hamin used his social media platform to question why cultural sectors, particularly music, continue to receive little to no visibility in party manifestos. His comments quickly gained traction across online communities, with artists and fans echoing his concerns.
In a Facebook post, Hamin wrote that he and other creatives want to see clear commitments from political parties on how they intend to support cultural development. He noted that despite Bangladesh’s 54-year history and a thriving music scene that touches millions, no major political manifesto has ever outlined a structured plan for the sector.
Hamin highlighted that Bangladesh’s music audience spans generations, from teenagers streaming songs online to older listeners with long-standing ties to the country’s musical heritage. He suggested that this enormous listener base could collectively influence parties to take cultural policy more seriously. According to his post, even a portion of the nation’s 180 million people could become a powerful advocacy group if they demanded cultural commitments before casting their votes.
He also pointed out that culture plays a central role in shaping national identity, arguing that political parties must demonstrate how they plan to preserve, promote and modernise Bangladesh’s artistic landscape.
Hamin’s remarks have ignited widespread discussion among musicians, composers and listeners, many of whom say that arts funding, institutional support and long-term cultural planning deserve a stronger place in national debates.
