120 eminent citizens express concern over demolition of 'Anjali Laho Mor' mural

One hundred and twenty-one cultural activists, poets, writers, journalists, and progressive citizens of the country have expressed deep concern over the recent administrative order to demolish the mural ‘Anjali Laho Mor’ installed at Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University at Trishal in Mymensingh.

This concern was expressed in a press release issued on Thursday (June 19).

According to the release, the artwork was created by artist Monindra Pal and was inspired by the dance posture of renowned dancer Munmun Ahmed. This is not just any ordinary artwork—it is a bearer of our fine arts and a symbol of the eternal human connection between creation and the creator. It is also an expression of women’s human capability and strength. The destruction of such an artistic object is tantamount to an attack on our culture and human sensibility.

The statement also said, “We are observing with deep concern that the trend of destroying historical and cultural symbols and installations is ongoing. We believe these are essentially the result of mal-politics and increasingly intensified extremist behaviour in the name of religion. In recent times, we have witnessed numerous acts of destruction including the memorials of the great Liberation War, mausoleums and shrines symbolic of our indigenous mystic traditions, sculptures and murals of individuals associated with the Language Movement, Liberation War and historical uprisings from different eras, as well as aesthetic artworks and archaeological heritage linked to the memory of world poet Rabindranath Tagore such as the Kachari Bari, among many others.”

Condemning all such malpractice, the signatories stated, “We believe that these acts of desecration are not only contrary to our heritage and existence, but have also become a source of national shame before future generations and the world at large. We further believe that on the path to building a progressive country and becoming a civilised, tolerant, culturally-minded nation recognised globally, this is a major obstacle. Collectively, we strongly condemn all such malpractices.”

The signatories include valiant freedom fighter and fiction writer Ishaq Khan, fiction writer Zakir Talukder, children’s author and professor Dr Khaled Hossain, poet Saifullah Mahmud Dulal, fiction writer Parvez Hossain, translator and Chattogram University Professor GH Habib, poet and cultural personality Salahuddin Badal, writer and researcher Sarkar Abdul Mannan, poet Hasan Al Abdullah, poet and journalist Ajay Dasgupta, valiant freedom fighter and writer Dr Nurun Nabi, vocalist, lyricist, and valiant freedom fighter Tajul Imam, fiction writer and essayist Dr Mukid Chowdhury, poet and journalist Jewel Mazhar, poet and freethinker Shahed Kayes, fiction writer Rafiqul Rashid, fiction writer and elocutionist Rabi Shankar Maitri, writer and film researcher Bidhan Rebeiro, fiction writer and teacher Hamim Kamrul Haque, poet and fiction writer Santosh Ray, poet Fakir Elias, poet and film teacher Sakira Parvin, poet and filmmaker Dr Masud Pathik, poet and journalist Shimul Salahuddin, poet and journalist Naushad Jamil, poet Rimjhim Ahmed, poet Tushar Gayen, poet Saiyeed Manju, poet and journalist Ashraful Islam, fiction writer Mozammel Haque Niyogi, fiction writer Moni Haider, fiction writer Swakrit Noman, fiction writer and researcher Ranjana Biswas, fiction writer Abdullah Al Imran, fiction writer and journalist Hamim Kamal, poet and journalist Girish Goiric, poet Ahmed Shiplu, poet and artist Ringku Animik, poet and storyteller Mohammad Anwarul Kabir, literary figure and journalist Dipankar Deepak, poet and cultural worker Arif Nazrul, poet and editor Sarkar Aziz, poet Sikta Kajol, poet and essayist Jahangir Hossain, poet and cultural activist Delwar Elahi, poet Shafik Selim, poet Nasreen Haque, poet Nadim Mahmud, poet Binoy Karmakar, poet Farhana Ilias Tuli, poet Kangal Shaheen, poet Samar Chakraborty, poet Biren Mukherjee, poet Masudar Rahman, poet Khaled Sarfuddin, poet Bulbul Islam, poet Paritosh Haldar, poet and journalist Achintya Chayan, poet Chandan Chowdhury, poet Mamun Khan, poet and essayist Asad Ullah, poet Latif Jowardar, poet Safina Akter, poet and literary figure Tipu Sultan, poet and journalist Faruq Afindi, poet and lawyer Ismat Shilpi, children’s writer Humayun Kabir Dhali, journalist and children’s writer Apon Apu, rhymester and journalist Syed Hilal Saif, fiction writer and essayist Shams Said, fiction writer Rashed Rehman, fiction writer Arifur Rahman, fiction writer and little mag editor Shafik Hasan, fiction writer Shahmub Jewel, fiction writer Marina Nasreen, fiction writer Sohrab Sumon, fiction writer Hamim Faruq, fiction writer and journalist Sirajul Ahsan, poet Ziab ul Ibn, journalist and literary figure Mohsin Habib, fiction writer Smaralipi, fiction writer Anif Rubed, fiction writer and journalist Azharul Haque Farazi, journalist Afroza Sultana Chaiti, journalist Habib Iman, writer and researcher Sohel Mazhar, writer and researcher Prabir Bikash Sarkar, writer and publisher Sahas Ratan, journalist Mahiuddin Ahmed, writer and publisher Mehedi Hasan Shoaib, writer and publisher Ajay Kumar Ray, writer and editor Sadat Ullah Khan, writer and journalist Maria Salam, writer and journalist Manik Mohammad Omar, writer and journalist Shahadat Hossain Tawhid, writer and journalist Shahidul Islam Nirab, organiser and social thinker Rafayet Chowdhury, elocutionist Sabina Neeru, elocutionist and organiser Swadhin Majumder, Liberation War researcher and journalist Mostafa Hossain, science writer Abdul Gaffar Rony, journalist and photography teacher Sudipto Salam, lyricist and composer Sheikh Saifullah Rumi, activist Sarwar Sabur, activist Tushar Ahmed, social worker Sardar Rihan, social worker Molla Hasanuzzaman Tipu, social worker Gauri Roy, social worker Tamal Chandra Barman, actor Niranjan Niru, poet Shahiduzzaman Firoz, poet Shubhro Biswas, poet and writer Selim Ahmed Khan, writer Shoaib Ibn Shaheen, poet Atiar Rahman, poet and organiser Arup Kumar Barua, Lalon singer Anamika Rita, poet and rhymester Nuruddin Sheikh, poet and fiction writer Nahar Monika, and researcher Manis Rafique.