Murals of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman have been vandalized in various districts of Bangladesh by members of the so-called anti-discrimination student movement, Jamaat-Shibir, and militants. The incidents took place on Wednesday (February 5) between 10:00 PM and 1:30 AM local time.
At Begum Rokeya University and Carmichael College in Rangpur, murals of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were demolished. Around 10:00 PM, leaders and activists of the anti-discrimination student movement destroyed the murals at these institutions.
In Mymensingh city, members of the anti-discrimination student movement started vandalizing Sheikh Mujib’s mural near the Circuit House field. The act began around 11:30 PM using hammers and crowbars.
Among those present were Ali Hossain, secretary of the anti-discrimination movement’s Mymensingh district committee; Faisal Farnim, district committee spokesperson; Al Nur Md. Ayas, metropolitan committee secretary; and joint convener Nafius Rohan, along with 15-20 other activists.
Similar to the destruction of the sculpture at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka, militants, under the guise of students and the public, demolished Sheikh Mujib’s statue in Mymensingh as well.
At Kazi Nazrul Islam University in Trishal, the “Mujib Mural” at Bangabandhu Hall was demolished. The vandalism began around 11:00 PM by anti-discrimination students.
In Sunamganj municipal town, students destroyed two murals of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in front of two institutions. Eyewitnesses reported that around 11:00 PM, a group of students arrived at the Heritage Museum premises and began demolishing the murals with large hammers.
At the Chuadanga Deputy Commissioner’s office premises, the murals of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Fazilatunnesa Mujib were completely destroyed using a bulldozer at 12:15 AM.
In Bhairab, Kishoreganj, agitated students once again vandalized murals of Sheikh Mujib at the Upazila Awami League office and Upazila Parishad. The attack on the murals occurred at 11:00 PM, while the party office was attacked around 10:30 PM.
At Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in Sylhet, a bulldozer was used to demolish Sheikh Mujib’s mural. The destruction began at midnight, and 20 minutes later, students also demolished the nameplate of Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall. Earlier, on August 5, a portion of Sheikh Mujib’s mural had been vandalized.
In Jessore, Jamaat-Shibir activists destroyed the murals of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the District Council, Sadar Upazila Parishad, and Jessore Municipality. Additionally, they vandalized the wall of the Victory Monument in Monihar area.
At 11:00 PM, the already damaged mural of Sheikh Mujib at the Panchagarh District Council premises was attacked again.
In Chittagong, murals of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were vandalized at Chittagong Medical College and Jamal Khan area in the city. The incident occurred around 10:00 PM on Wednesday.
The people of the country believe that such acts were carried out under the state patronage of the interim government. Militants who were released from prison participated in these vandalism acts. It was the responsibility of the police and all other law enforcement agencies to protect the country’s assets. However, no legal action was seen being taken during these incidents of vandalism, looting, and destruction of property.