'Swadhinata Sangram' sculptures remain broken for 2 years, Chhatra Federation demands repair before Victory Day

Beside the busy road on Dhaka University's Fuller Road, the 'Swadhinata Sangram' sculpture square created by artist Shamim Sikder lies neglected. After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, when sculptures began to be broken in various places across the country, this one did not escape either. Almost all of the 116 sculptures on the road island were vandalised.

Some sculptures have no heads, some have broken facial parts, and others have severed hands and legs. The mutilated sculptures have been lying on the ground for more than two years. The sculptures of the seven Bir Sreshthos at the square were also vandalised; parts of their faces were damaged. Many of the portraits of luminaries including Michael Madhusudan Dutt, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Rabindranath Tagore and Lalon are still mutilated. Although parts of the broken sculptures have been lying like this for a long time, there is no initiative to repair them.

Bangladesh Chhatra Federation has protested over the broken sculptures not being repaired even in two years. On September 15, leaders and activists of the organisation's Dhaka University branch tied black cloth over the eyes and mouths of the broken sculptures at the 'Swadhinata Sangram' square. They demanded quick repair, rebuilding and proper preservation. President of the Chhatra Federation central committee, Saikat Arif, said, "After the July student-people's uprising, incidents of sculpture vandalism occurred in various places across the country. No effective initiative was seen to protect the damaged sculptures. Dhaka University is an important centre of democratic movements. It is not acceptable for a historic sculpture square of that university to remain broken for nearly two years."

Chhatra Federation has demanded that the sculptures be repaired and opened for the public before Victory Day. He also said a memorandum was submitted to the university authorities on September 17. Saikat also said a larger programme will be taken with teachers, cultural activists and social organisations.

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor A B M Obaidul Islam told the media that he has spoken with the chief engineer about repairing not just 'Swadhinata Sangram' but all damaged sculptures on the campus. However, he could not give a specific timeframe for when the repair work will begin. The Vice-Chancellor said initiatives will be taken to repair the sculptures after a meeting with the chief engineer. The matter is under the attention of the university administration.

University Proctor Md Israfil Ratan said a committee has been formed regarding the sculptures. However, it is important to take the opinions of the artists who created them. If the artists' opinions cannot be obtained, the university authorities will have to arrange repairs on their own initiative.

Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts Sheikh Azharul Islam said several meetings have been held before regarding the sculptures. As sculptor Shamim Sikder has died and there is no contact with his family members, complications have arisen in reinstalling them. After an artist's creation is broken, the question of the original artist's opinion arises in rebuilding it. There is also a shortage of experts in the country in preserving and restoring sculptures.

It may be mentioned that the 'Swadhinata Sangram' sculpture square was built under the planning and construction of sculptor Shamim Sikder. Its construction work began on Fuller Road in 1988 under the name 'Amar Ekushey'. In February 1990, Professor Ahmad Sharif inaugurated the sculpture. In 1998, when the construction of Udayan School's new building began, it was relocated to the adjacent road island.

Later, Shamim Sikder changed and expanded the sculpture's form and rearranged it anew in light of the history of the Liberation War and the long freedom struggle of Bengalis. It was named 'Swadhinata Sangram'.

On March 7, 1999, then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated it. Around the main sculpture are 116 sculptures. Various chapters of the Language Movement, the 1966 autonomy movement, the 1969 mass uprising and the 1971 Liberation War are reflected in it. Historical events such as the March 7 speech, the dark night of March 25, the declaration of independence and victory are also among its themes.