Multiple groups from Dhaka University's Faculty of Fine Arts staged protests on Wednesday following an arson attack on the residence of renowned sculptor Manabendra Ghosh.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday has sparked widespread outrage among current and former students, faculty members, and student organizations.
Protesters are demanding justice, compensation, and security for the artist.
At approximately 3:30am on Wednesday, unidentified miscreants reportedly set fire to the home of Manabendra Ghosh, an alumnus of the Faculty of Fine Arts.
Ghosh had been actively assisting students in creating motifs for the traditional "Anondo Shobhajatra" procession celebrating Bangla New Year 1432.
This attack comes in the wake of another incident involving the burning of the "Face of Fascist" motif.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, the Faculty of Fine Arts condemned the attack, expressing “deep sorrow, frustration, anger, and grief.”
The statement also revealed that several artists involved in this year's procession had received threatening phone calls from abroad.
The faculty demanded swift action to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice.
In response to these events, three separate protest gatherings took place throughout the day.
Human chain
At 4:30pm, former and current students, along with teachers involved in the New Year celebrations, formed a human chain.
Speakers at the gathering demanded exemplary punishment for the perpetrators and adequate compensation for Manabendra Ghosh.
Associate Professor Israfil Ratan of the Graphic Design Department, who also serves as assistant proctor, said: “Even after the killings of 2024, Awami League associates continue to intimidate us. They fear Charukala’s artistic expression.”
He suggested that the attacks were intended to provoke negative reactions in global media.
Associate Professor Debashish Pal, provost of Jagannath Hall and a faculty member of the Ceramics Department, expressed solidarity with Ghosh, saying: “Manabendra Ghosh is not alone; we stand with him.”
Pal further claimed that despite Ghosh’s outstanding academic achievements—ranking first in both his honors and master’s programs—he had been denied employment opportunities due to his minority identity.
He called on the attackers to "come forward in the open instead of hiding in the darkness of night."
Bangladesh Democratic Students’ Council protest
The Dhaka University unit of the Bangladesh Democratic Students’ Council also staged a separate protest condemning the arson attack.
Abdul Kader, convener of the DU Committee, announced two primary demands: immediate state compensation for Ghosh, and guaranteed safety for him and his family, along with the swift identification and prosecution of those responsible.
“The government must compensate for the damages to the house that was set on fire,” Kader said. “At the same time, the Awami League and its affiliates must be brought to justice and face the maximum punishment.”
Second student human chain
Another group of current and former Fine Arts students organized a second human chain at 5:30pm in front of the Faculty of Fine Arts.
This group had previously raised questions about the renaming of “Mangal Shobhajatra” to “Borshoboron Anondo Shobhajatra.”
In addition to demanding justice for the arson attack on Ghosh’s residence, the protesters also called for the prosecution of those responsible for burning the “Face of Fascist” motif in an earlier incident.
Jahid Jamil, a student from the 2015–16 session, voiced his support for Ghosh, saying: “We won’t tolerate any attack on the practice of art.”
Shimul Kumbhakar, a current Fine Arts student, criticized the government's inaction, saying: “Why can’t the government catch or bring the miscreants to justice?”
He described the attack on Ghosh’s home as “tragic” and urged immediate intervention.
