DU administration erases portraits of Ghulam Azam, 2 others from hall gate

The administration of Jagannath Hall at Dhaka University has removed murals depicting convicted war criminals Ghulam Azam, Motiur Rahman Nizami and Quader Molla that were painted on a campus road near hall gate to mark Martyred Intellectuals Day.

The murals, painted late Saturday night near Rabindra Bhaban and the October Memorial Building, were erased around 10:00am on Sunday (December 14).

Students claim the images were removed citing security concerns, while the hall administration said the action was taken on university instructions after objections were raised.

Jagannath Hall Students’ Union Vice President Pallab Barman said the hall was among the most affected during the Liberation War, with many intellectuals killed on December 14. As part of the “Tulira Anchey Droho” (Defiance Through Brushstrokes) programme, students painted the images as an expression of protest and remembrance. He alleged that the administration removed the murals citing security concerns and demanded accountability for the decision.

Hall Provost Professor Debashish Pal said the paintings were done without prior permission. According to him, students had sought approval to display Liberation War–themed artwork, but once the specific images came to the attention of the university authorities, instructions were issued to remove them following students’ representations.

When asked about the rationale behind the directive, the provost said no explanation was provided.

The university proctor Saifuddin Ahmed, however, denied issuing any directive, saying officials only sought clarification about the artwork.