Ink on Rabindranath’s graffiti in Khulna, anti-Rabindranath posters beside it

Khulna City Corporation (KCC) has painted wall paintings at various places as part of beautifying the city on the occasion of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to Khulna. Country’s renowned poets, litterateurs and political personalities have found a place in these wall paintings.

However, the face of a graffiti of Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore at Shibbari Mor of the city has been covered with ink. Besides, several posters have been pasted beside the portrait. Discussion and criticism have been created among the local people over the statements of these posters.

On Friday morning (November 6) it was found on the spot that the graffiti of various intellectuals painted on the wall of Shibbari Mor remained intact but the face of the portrait of Rabindranath Tagore has been covered with ink.

Two posters have been pasted near the head of the graffiti. Various statements have been written on them raising allegations about the role of Rabindranath Tagore in opposing the establishment of Dhaka University.

One poster reads, “In Titumir’s Bengal, in Muslim East Bengal there is no place for foreigners, there is no place for India worship.”

However, it could not be confirmed who did this incident and for what purpose.

Apart from Rabindranath Tagore, the wall painting also has graffiti of Rebel Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, former president Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt among other distinguished personalities.

These wall paintings painted on the initiative of KCC on the occasion of the Prime Minister’s visit to Khulna on Thursday have already attracted the attention of the city dwellers. Many have taken photos in front of these paintings while visiting with their families. They have also praised such an initiative for beautifying the city.