Only two weeks after the vandalism of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s sculpture in Kushtia, yet unidentified miscreants vandalised the sculpture of British revolutionary leader Baghajatin. Vandals damaged the nose and parts of the right cheek of the sculpture installed at Kaya College in Kumarkhali upazila, police said. Kushtia’s Additional Superintendent of Police Atiqul Islam Atiq said one of their teams had visited the spot. He said they were conducting drives to identify and arrest the vandals. Bangabandhu’s under-construction sculpture at Panch Rastar Mor area of Kushtia was vandalised on Dec 4, sparking countrywide protests. The face and hands of the sculpture were damaged. The construction of the sculpture, Bangabandhu delivering his historic March 7 speech, started on November 17 and was nearing completion. Ruling Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has made it clear that any attempt to destroy religious tolerance in the country would be dealt with strictly. He said damaging of Bangabandhu's sculpture in Kushtia is “an attack on the soul of Bangladesh” and warned that those involved in the crime cannot be let go. On November 13, Islami Andolan Bangladesh Nayeb-e-Ameer Faizul Karim and Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque opposed the setting up of another sculpture of the Father of the Nation in the capital. On December 2, Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Mustafa Osman Turan said a sculpture of Bangabandhu would be set up in Ankara. Also, another sculpture of Kemal Ataturk, father of modern Turkey, would be set up in Dhaka. Last month, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque said a 26-feet high sculpture of Bangabandhu would be installed at Suhrawardy Udyan. The High Court in a rule on March 4, 2018, asked the government to explain why directives should not be given to set up a Bangabandhu’s speech-mode sculpture at the place where he had delivered the historic March 7 speech. Meanwhile, the defacing of Bangabandhu’s sculpture in Kushtia prompted the High Court to ask the authorities concerned to ensure the security of all sculptures of the Father of the Nation across the country. Source: UNB AH

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today (Sunday) said stern punitive actions will be taken against those who vandalized an under-construction sculpture of Bangabandhu in Kushtia. “Vandalism of Bangabandhu’s sculpture is a severe offence that cannot be pardoned in any way. Those who are involved with the incident will be exposed to stern punitive actions by scrutinizing the CCTV footage,” he said. Quader was addressing an extended meeting of Narsingdi district unit of AL, joining it through a videoconferencing from his official residence on parliament premises in Dhaka. The minister said the government “will not spare” any derogatory comments, speeches and behaviors those will be conflicting with the country’s constitution and laws. He said an extreme communal force is making ill attempts to create religious turmoil centering a settled issue of the country’s history. Defamation of sculpture of Bangabandhu, who is the architect of independent Bangladesh, is a severe blow to the root of country’s spirit, he added. “The display and preservation of Bangabandhu’s portrait is a constitutionally statutory matter. So, defamation of Bangabandhu’s sculpture is tantamount to defamation of the constitution,” he said. Quader said thousands of people got agitated over the incident of vandalism of Bangabandhu’s sculpture. “We can perceive the emotions of the people. Awami League doesn’t carry out attack on anyone deliberately. But if it becomes victim of attack, it will not show any mercy in building strong resistance against the attackers,” he said. The minister gave a note of warning to the communal forces, saying “Enough is enough… stop now. Bangabandhu means the country’s existence and independence, Bangabandhu means Bangladesh and its constitution. Defamation of Bangabandhu’s sculpture is tantamount to defamation of the Liberation War and its sprit”. The minister also strongly condemned the vandalism of a part of ‘Madhu Da’s sculpture on the premises of Madhu’s canteen on Dhaka University campus. “Don’t go beyond the limit of our patience. We still keep our leaders and workers in control. If you again cross your limits, Awami League leaders and workers will not stay home,” he said, threatening the communal forces. Calling upon the pro-liberation forces to be united against the communal evil forces, he said Bangladesh had attained independence through the unified blood-shading people irrespective of religions. “We cannot let the country’s independence become hostage to any community or group,” he said. AL Presidium Member Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Faruk Khan, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun and AL Organizing Secretary Mirza Azam attended the meeting. Narsingdi district unit of AL acting president GM Taleb Hossain presided over the meeting moderated by its acting general secretary Pirjada Mohammad Ali. Source: BSS AH

At 2:16 am two madrasa students came near the sculpture of Bangabandhu by foot wearing paijama and Panjabi. Then they stepped up with help of a ladder on the sculpture of Bangabandhu at the panch rasta intersection in Kushtia town. They first hit the pointer finger of Bangabandhu's sculpture with hammer that they brought in a back pack. After that they vandalized the hand of the sculpture then the face of it. Nearly about nine minutes they stepped down with the ladder and left the place by walking. Police have arrested four persons including those two madrasa students. The information was delivered by Khulna range DIG Dr. Mohid Uddin at a press briefing over the incident of vandalizing Bangabandhu’s sculpture. The press briefing was arranged at Kushtia police line conference room on Sunday. He said, after analyzing the CCTV footage they interrogated two madrasa students. They recognized the two students who vandalized the sculpture. Based on their information after night long drive police arrested Sabuz Islam Nahid (20) from Philipnagar Golabari village under Daulatpur bordering India and Abu Bakkar Mithuun (19) from Shingpur of Mirpur upazila. They are the students of hefz department of Ibne Masud Madrasa at Jugia Paschimpara in Kushtia town. After interrogation it was known that two teachers of the madrasa inspired them to vandalize the sculpture and also helped them to flee. Police then arrested those two teachers named Al Amin (27) and Yusuf Ali (26). The DIG said, nobody will be spared. We are saddened like the whole nation. Investigation will go on to find out whether there is linkage with others. We have got some information. AH