Attackers have set fire to the village home of Manabendra Ghosh, the artist who designed motifs for the Anondo Shobhajatra celebrating Pohela Boishakh at Dhaka University's Faculty of Fine Arts.
According to Manabendra’s family, the attack took place on Tuesday in the Ghorpara Ghosher Bazar area of Manikganj Sadar upazila.
At the time of the incident, the artist was asleep inside the house, said his family.
Family and police sources said that on Tuesday night, a family member noticed flames coming from a tin-roofed room on the south side of the house.
The family then contacted the fire service, who arrived at the scene and managed to bring the fire under control.
Manabendra Ghosh was involved in designing several motifs for the Anondo Shobhajatra at Dhaka University, and he said that he had only worked on a tiger motif.
Speaking on the matter, Manabendra said: “My family and I are living in fear for our lives. At this moment, I appeal for government intervention.”
He added that he had been receiving threats on social media over the past few days.
"In response to these threats, I filed a General Diary (GD) at Manikganj Sadar police station on Tuesday evening. Just hours later, my house was set on fire," he said.
The blaze destroyed valuable artworks that Manabendra had created from his student life to the present day, he added.
The family said that the house that was set ablaze was a semi-permanent tin-roofed structure, where Manabendra kept all of his artistic materials. Now, nothing remains, they said.
Manikganj Sadar police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Amanullah, who visited the scene, said: “Legal action is underway regarding the incident.”
Meanwhile, Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki posted on Facebook following the incident.
Saying that the police are working to catch those responsible, he wrote: “The police have begun working to apprehend every individual involved in the attack on artist Manabendra Ghosh’s home. I’ve spoken with the home affairs adviser, who has given the inspector general of police (IGP) clear instructions.”
He added: “In recent days, certain pro-Awami League voices online had been inciting attacks against artist Manabendra Ghosh, accusing him of the so-called crime of creating a Hasina effigy. Each of them will be brought under the law.”
Farooki further wrote: “From the hills to the plains, Bangladesh has just wrapped up a remarkable celebration of unity. There’s still a lingering feeling of festivity in everyone’s hearts. And it’s in this moment that they struck, trying to remind us that July is ongoing."
"But what they don’t realize is that the people of Bangladesh are moving forward with July in their hearts—these attackers are insignificant before the unity of the Bangladeshi people.”
