A recent photograph from the office of BNP leader Tarique Rahman has triggered debate on social media following the formation of the new government. The image shows the Islamic declaration of faith, the Kalema, written in Arabic script on the office wall.
However, sources claim that the inscription is not a new addition. According to them, the same Kalema was displayed on the wall during the tenure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. At that time, a portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was reportedly placed beneath the inscription. The current photograph shows no portrait below the Arabic text.
Some social media users have alleged that the Kalema was not present on the wall during the previous administration. Sources familiar with the matter, however, have dismissed that claim as inaccurate.
The issue has also prompted comparisons with international practices. In Pakistan, portraits of Muhammad Ali Jinnah are commonly displayed in state offices, while in India, images of Mahatma Gandhi are frequently seen in government buildings.
During Sheikh Hasina’s administration, the Kalema was also featured in 560 model mosques constructed across the country, according to officials involved in the projects.
Analysts suggest that the display of religious inscriptions or portraits of national leaders in state offices is often shaped by historical, cultural, and policy considerations. While some observers interpret changes in office decor under the new administration as symbolic, others view them as routine administrative reorganization.
No official statement has yet been issued by the government regarding the matter.
