Obaidul Quader: Sculpture saboteurs to face stern actions

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on 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.

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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 behaviours that will be conflicting with the country’s constitution and laws.

He said an extreme communal force is making ill attempts to create religious turmoil centring a settled issue of the country’s history.

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Defamation of sculpture of Bangabandhu, who is the architect of independent Bangladesh, is a severe blow to the root of the country’s spirit, he added.

“We can perceive the emotions of the people. Awami League doesn’t carry out attack on anyone deliberately. But if it becomes a victim of attack, it will not show any mercy in building strong resistance against the attackers,” he further 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 spirit”. 

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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.

“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.