Man arrested for vandalizing Bangabandhu mural in Thakurgaon

Police have arrested a man for vandalizing a mural of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Pirganj, Thakurgaon.

The incident took place at around 4pm on Friday in Pirganj municipal town.

The arrested was identified as Nur Alam, 42, from Raghunathpur village. He is a carpenter by profession.

Pirganj police station Officer in-Charge (OC) Pradeep Kumar Roy said one side of the mural was damaged as Nur was hitting it with a brick. However, the portrait of Bangabandhu was not damaged.

The OC said after receiving information from the locals, police rushed to the spot and arrested him red-handed.

The police official said they were trying to find out Nur's motive behind this act of vandalism, and that legal action will be taken against him.

Pirganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Rezaul Karim and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Tariqul Islam visited the spot as well.

UNO Rezaul Karim said: "This is an upsetting incident. Appropriate legal action will be taken against him.”

The mural of the father of the nation was constructed in March 2019.

Earlier on December 5, a group of people vandalized the under-construction sculpture of Bangabandhu in Kushtia.

Various Islamist organizations across the country recently protested against the installation of a sculpture of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.