A senior leader of the ruling party yet again reiterated that the government has planned to take stern actions against those behind the anti-sculpture movement as protests erupted across the country after a Banganbandhu statue was vandalized in Kushtia.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said that stern, punitive measures will be taken and the government will not tolerate any derogatory comments, speeches, and behaviours that are in conflict with the country’s constitution and laws.
“Enough is enough… Stop now… Don’t go beyond the limit of our patience. We have kept our activists and supporters in control. But if you again cross your limits, Awami League supporters will not sit at their homes,” Quader, who serves as the road transport minister, said while addressing a party event via video conference from his residence in Dhaka.
Meanwhile, government high ups said that two-step action will be taken against the anti-sculpture movement – one is countrywide continuous demonstrations by the ruling Awami League and its associated bodies and secondly, law enforcement agencies will take necessary measures to enforce law.
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A number of senior Awami League leaders and members of the cabinet told Dhaka Tribune that they are not looking for a confrontation but they will be visible across the country through demonstration and protests so that “no one dares to vandalize sculptures again.”
At the same time law enforcement agencies will take actions, like making arrests and filing of cases against those who are behind the anti-sculpture movement.
Meanwhile, a Supreme Court lawyer filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking directions to ensure the protection of all sculptures of Bangabandhu.
While Talking to Dhaka Tribune on Saturday afternoon, a Kushtia lawmaker, requesting not to be quoted, said after the under-construction sculpture of Bangabandhu was defaced, agitated leaders and activists wanted to attack a number of Hefazat-e-Islam backed madrasas.
“But we refrained them from doing that. Local law agencies are now taking proper legal actions,” he said, anonymously.
Abdur Rahman, presidium member of Awami League, told Dhaka Tribune on Sunday afternoon: “We do not want confrontation. We will keep patience as much as we can because their aim is not to vandalize sculpture only, their aim is to create anarchy, and foil the government led by Sheikh Hasina and reestablish Bangladesh in the spirit of Pakistan.”
Awami League insiders said that they believe the sculpture fiasco is a political move by some Islamist groups and the party in power will tackle them politically.
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Recently, the Hefazat leader threatened to pull down an under construction sculpture of Bangbandhu in capital Dhaka. He was later backed by several other Islamist leaders, including Faizul.
Protests across Bangladesh
After the incident in Kushtia, Chhatra League, Jubo League, Swechhasebok League, Jubo Mohila League, Sramik League, Mohila Awami League has already protested across the country on Sunday.
“These types of demonstrations and protests will increase soon in the banner of some pro-liberation spiritual forces also,” a ruling party leader hinted.
He also said that, within a few days’ previous cases against Hefazat-e-Islam will gain pace.
Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) demonstrated on Dhaka University (DU) campus demanding exemplary punishment and arrest.
While addressing the rally, Lekhak Bhattacharjee, general secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra League, said: “Those who are protesting against the sculptures in the country have crossed their limit. Chhatra League will repel these anti-sculpture protestors.”
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Meanwhile, activists of the ruling Awami League have demonstrated all across the country, including Savar, Chapainawabganj, Tangail, and Jhenaidah.
High Court moved to protect sculptures
Supreme Court lawyer Uttam Lahiri filed the writ petition with the High Court that said: "Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman brought us freedom. He is the symbol of liberation. His sculptures must not remain unprotected.”
Therefore, in the writ petition, instructions have been sought to ensure the safety of all the sculptures of Bangabandhu.
In the writ, people concerned, including the secretary for Home Affairs, were made defendants. It was learned that the High Court bench headed by Justice JBM Hassan may hear the writ petition.
Dhaka University teachers protest
Expressing grave concern over the vandalism in Kushtia, Dhaka University Teachers’ Association or DUTA has termed the act an attack on the people and against the state.
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In a statement issued on Sunday, the teachers’ organization said: “We believe Bangabandhu and Bangladesh are inseparable. No evil forces can ever remove the name of Bangabandhu from our hearts. We consider the vandalism of the statue as being an attack on entire Bangladesh."
“On December 5 in 1969, Bangabandhu renamed the then East Pakistan as Bangladesh and unfortunately, some miscreants vandalized his sculpture in the early hours of the same day, after 51 years, causing our hearts to bleed,” the statement reads.
“We think the attack is the outcome of continued provocative anti-statue remarks made by Islamists across the country in the past few days,” they added, warning that such an act will never be tolerated in future and if needed, the entire nation will unite to fight evil forces.
The DUTA has planned to hold a human chain at the base of Aparajeyo Bangla sculpture on the university campus around 11:30am on Monday.
