Attempt to erase Rabindranath’s portrait, four arrested questioned at DB office

Four persons arrested over the incident of putting ink on the portrait of world poet Rabindranath Tagore on the wall in front of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Segunbagicha of the capital are being questioned at the Detective Branch (DB) office of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. Among them are member-secretary of Rashtra Songlap Forum A N M Ayas and one woman.

They were arrested at noon on Saturday (October 10). It has been informed from the side of the police that they have been arrested as a preventive measure over the apprehension of creating disorder.

Deputy Commissioner of Ramna Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Sheikh Zahidul Islam told Bangla Tribune that Ayas has been arrested to avoid disorder. The other arrested persons have also been taken to the DB office.

Additional Commissioner (Detective) of DMP Shafiqul Islam said that the questioning of the arrested persons is ongoing. Subsequent legal measures will be taken on the basis of the information received from them.

On the other hand, amid the controversy over keeping the portrait of Rabindranath Tagore in the wall painting, media personality and debater Dr. Abdun Noor Tushar has reacted on social media. Raising the context of criticism over the portraits of Rabindranath Tagore, Satyajit Ray and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, he asked why there is so much objection over their pictures being on the wall.

It has been learnt that under the initiative of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), portraits of 10 writers, litterateurs and cultural personalities have been painted on the wall beside Shilpakala Academy. Among them are Kazi Nazrul Islam, Fakir Lalon Shah, Zainul Abedin, S M Sultan, Zahir Raihan, Shah Abdul Karim and Humayun Faridi of Bangladesh. Alongside, the portraits of Rabindranath Tagore, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and Satyajit Ray of West Bengal have also found a place.

The wall paintings were drawn as part of the project of freeing the footpath from occupation and beautifying the area in Segunbagicha. Under the same initiative, dustbins have been installed there and benches have been set up for the rest of pedestrians. Administrator of DSCC Abdus Salam inaugurated this activity.