Dhaka University (DU) students gathered in the middle of the night on Sunday after workers, aided by a crane, attempted to repaint a stained image of Sheikh Hasina.
The picture, defaced during the July uprising that followed the fall of the government, had become a symbol of public outrage.
It is located on a metro rail pillar behind the Raju Memorial Sculpture, which protesters view as a representation of the disdain for Sheikh Hasina’s administration.
The incident occurred around 3am when workers began coating the stained mural. While the painting of Sheikh Hasina’s image was partially covered, a nearby pillar with a painting of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had already been repainted.
Upon seeing the activity, students approached the workers, who claimed they were employed by the metro rail authorities and had received permission from DU administration to proceed.
As news of the repainting spread across social media, particularly on Facebook groups frequented by DU students, many students rushed to the scene.
Along with general student leaders from several student organizations, including the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Jatiya Nagarik Committee, Bangladesh Chhatra Union, and Biplabi Chhatra Moitree were present.
DU Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed arrived at the scene to address the agitated crowd.
He said to the students: "The directive didn't come from any particular ministry but from 'probably' an additional director of the National Security Intelligence (NSI) who told me by phone about the repainting."
He said that he later passed this information to DU’s estate officer, Fatema Binte Mostafa, leading to the approval of the repainting.
However, this explanation failed to appease the students, who criticized the administration for acting without consulting them.
Some students attempted to detain the proctor briefly, demanding his resignation, while Saifuddin Ahmed apologized and claimed the decision was unintentional.
The protest also gained traction on social media.
Umama Fatema, central coordinator of the “Students Against Discrimination” platform, criticized the university administration in a post on her personal profile, calling them “nonsense” and “silly.”
Prior to this, in September, a group of students had installed a preservation plaque on this metro rail pillar, designating it as an anti-fascist hate monument.
