Garland of shoes on sculpture of Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman

An incident of hanging a garland of shoes on the half-constructed sculpture of Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman conserved in the central bus terminal area of Jhenaidah town has taken place. Discussion and criticism started after photos of the state of the garland of shoes hanging on the head part of the sculpture spread on social media on Tuesday morning. Later it was removed by sending people from the side of the Muktijoddha Sangsad. However, it could not be known immediately who caused this incident.

In the photos that spread on social media, it is seen that a garland of shoes has been hung with a rope on the head part of the white-painted sculpture. In this, two shoes or sandals are seen on the right side and three on the left side.

Convenor of the current committee of the district Muktijoddha Sangsad Kamaluzzaman Kamal informed that a person phoned him from the bus terminal area around 10:30am on Tuesday and informed him about the hanging of the garland of shoes on the sculpture. Later that person phoned again and identified himself as a police member. After receiving the news, the garland of shoes was removed by sending people from the Muktijoddha Sangsad office.

Kamaluzzaman Kamal said, “The matter is extremely condemnable. This is extreme humiliation of the greatest sons of the nation. This is in no way acceptable. Those involved must be brought under the law by investigating the incident.”

An emergency meeting was held at the office of the district administrator on Tuesday evening over the incident. Officials of the district administration and police administration, freedom fighters, political leaders and activists and representatives of civil society were present in it.

Kamaluzzaman informed that a decision has been taken in the meeting to rapidly bring those involved in the incident under the law, install CCTV cameras at the sculpture site and construct the sculpture of Hamidur Rahman in the correct form through a good architect.

OC of Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station Asaduzzaman said, “I have heard about the matter from the journalists. Besides, I do not know the details. There is also no update in this regard.”

District Administrator Noman Hossain said, “The incident is very regrettable. Necessary directives have been given to the police administration so that those involved can be rapidly brought under the law by investigating. Details will be known after the investigation is completed. We are in a tough position in this regard.”

Tea stall owner of the bus terminal area Javed Mia said that he saw the garland of shoes on the head of the sculpture of Hamidur Rahman while opening the shop in the morning. Later a person came and removed it.

Nephew of Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman Hafizur Rahman said, “Someone has perhaps taken a plan to erase Hamidur Rahman, the history and memory of the Liberation War from there. Let those involved be brought under the law through a proper investigation.”

President of the district unit of Samajtantrik Chhatra Front Sharmin Sultana, who shared the photo on social media, said that after coming to know about the matter, she confirmed the authenticity of the incident by sending people and posted it on social media after collecting the photo.

She said, “This is a very detestable incident. Those involved in the humiliation of Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman must be brought under the law.”

Earlier, some people came and carried out an attack and vandalism on the sculpture in the afternoon of that day after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024. After that, some workers again started the work of breaking it in July of the current year. Reports were published in the media in this regard. Amid criticism, the work of breaking the sculpture was later kept stopped.