Bangabandhu Sculpture: Punish the culprits

The High Court yesterday directed the government authorities concerned to take appropriate legal and punitive actions against the culprits involved in damaging the sculpture of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The court also asked the director general of Bangladesh Islamic Foundation and the khatib of Baitul Mukarram national mosque to take necessary steps to build awareness among the people through print and electronic media and other means that monuments, statues, portraits, and murals of the Father of the Nation are symbols of the country's independence, history, heritage, and glory and that those are not contradictory to the religion.

Besides, the HC issued a rule asking the authorities to explain in four weeks as to why they should not be directed to prosecute the perpetrators of the damage to Bangabandhu's monuments on charges of sedition and violating the constitution.

The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam came up with the order and rule following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Uttam Kumar Lahery seeking necessary directives on this issue.

Nahid Sultana Juthi, Shah Monjurul Hoque and several other lawyers appeared for the petitioner while Attorney General AM Amin Uddin represented the state during the hearing on the petition.

The under-constitution sculpture of Bangabandhu in Kushtia town was damaged on Saturday. The following day, Uttam Kumar filed the writ petition with the HC seeking its directives on the government to protect and preserve all sculptures, including those of Bangabandhu, across the country.

The respondents are duty-bound to protect all monuments under Article 24 of the constitution, the petitioner said, adding that setting up statue of the Father of the Nation is not contradictory to religion.

Secretaries to the ministries of home affairs, liberation war affairs and religious affairs, the inspector general of police, the director general of Bangladesh Islamic Foundation and the khatib of Baitul Mukarram national mosque have been made respondents to the rule and directive.

FOUR PLACED ON REMAND

Meanwhile, a Kushtia court yesterday placed four arrestees on remand in a case over vandalising the sculpture of Bangabandhu at Panch Rastar intersection in Kushtia town, reports our correspondent.

Kushtia Model Police Station Inspector Nishikanta Das, also the investigation officer of the case, produced the arrestees before Kushtia Senior Judicial Magistrate Enamul Haque seeking 10-day remand each for Ibn Masood (R) Madrasa students Abu Bakkar Mithun, 19, and Md Sabuj Islam Nahid, 20, and seven-day remand each for their teachers Al Amin, 26, and Md Abu Yusuf, 31.

The court, however, granted five-day remand for each of the students and four-day remand for each of the teachers.

ISLAMI ANDOLON TONES DOWN STANCE

Islami Andolon Bangladesh (IAB) yesterday apparently toned down its stance on construction of sculptures saying it did not express any opinion about demolition of sculptures or idols.

"We have opposed setting up of sculptures and idols in a logical way. But we did not make any comment on the demolition of any sculpture or idol. It is completely illegal if anyone gets involved in such an activity," IAB Amir Syed Mohammad Rezaul Karim said at a press conference at its central office in the capital.

In the statement, he said the country's Alem community and religious-minded general people can speak their mind against construction of sculptures.

"But it is the responsibility of the authorities concerned whether they will pay heed to it or not," Rezaul added.

The party came up with the statement a day after Hefajat-e Islam Bangladesh Amir Junayed Babunagari, Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque and IAB Senior Nayeb-e-Amir Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim were sued for sedition.

Mamunul is also the secretary general of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish.

Asked about the damage to Bangabandhu's sculpture in Kushtia, Rezaul said, "If anyone gets involved in such an activity, it would be a provocative act. We support the government's stance on taking actions against those responsible through conducting proper investigations."

The IAB amir demanded withdrawal of the sedition case.

On Monday evening, Hefajat leader Mamunul also condemned defacing of Bangabandhu's sculpture.

Talking at a Facebook Live event on his verified page, he said they never spoke against Bangabandhu.