Defacing Bangabandhu Sculpture: Protests continue, govt officials join in

Judges, government officials and businesspersons were among the people who demonstrated yesterday against the attack on a sculpture of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

They said disrespect towards the Father of the Nation would not be tolerated and an attack on Bangabandhu was an attack on the state and the constitution.

Protesters under the banner of Government Official Forum held rallies, discussions and human chains across the country.

The programmes were coordinated by the Bangladesh Administrative Service Association (BASA).

Protests have been going on since December 5 when an under-construction sculpture of Bangabandhu was vandalised in Kushtia on December 5.

Two students and two teachers of a local madrasa were arrested in this connection.

Some of the arrestees told police that they were inspired after hearing Hefajat-e Islam leaders denounce sculptures at public events.

After sedition cases were filed against Hefajat chief Junayed Babunagari and Secretary General Nur Hossain Kasemi, the organisation said it didn't ask anyone to vandalise sculptures of Bangabandhu.

Hefajat also urged the government to resolve the problem through discussion.

In the capital yesterday, the government officials' programme was held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus said, "We will not allow any disrespect to the Father of the Nation. We take this vow today."

He added, " We are the servants of the people. The Father of the Nation remains in our constitution. Our responsibility is to uphold the constitution."

BASA President Helal Uddin Ahmed said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was recognised in the constitution as the Father of the Nation. "Any kind of attack and any insult against Bangabandhu will not be tolerated."

Benazir Ahmed, inspector general of Bangladesh Police, said attack on the constitution and the state would be dealt with an iron hand.

Several thousand government officials attended the programme.

In Chattogram, around 100 judges of different courts formed a human chain holding black banners in Dampara area. They later marched through the area.

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) also formed human chains in the metropolitan cities.

[Our correspondents in Chattagram, Patuakhali, Barishal, and Tangail contributed in this report]