Why ‘Anjali Laho Mor’ sculpture was demolished

Bangladesh’s national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam was a poet of love and rebellion, a poet of secularism. He only wanted to spread the message of love against all injustice and oppression. He wanted to remove envy and hatred from the human heart; but today, even the poet’s message of love is no longer tolerable to envious miscreants. The reason is that the radiant message of love has not reached their hearts. That is why they are capable of demolishing a sculpture inspired by the lyrics of a song by Kazi Nazrul Islam.

According to news published in the media on Thursday (June 19), the sculpture ‘Anjali Laho Mor’ installed at the Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University at Trishal in Mymensingh, has been demolished by administrative order. The sculpture, inaugurated in January 2024, was created based on the title of one of the poet’s songs and was placed by the pond between the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the old Faculty of Arts building.

According to university sources, in 2024, as part of a beautification project costing over Tk 40 million for the university’s internal ponds, the ‘Anjali Laho Mor’ sculpture was constructed. However, after an administrative change on August 5, the decision to demolish it was made under the direction of the new administration.

Previously, the sculpture was commissioned by then Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Soumitra Shekhar. Students of the university stated that the decision was driven by a spirit of revenge. One student remarked that demolishing ‘Anjali Laho Mor’, which was part of the beautification of the university’s only pond, was extremely unfortunate. It was one of the most aesthetic installations. The administration could have planned anew and taken steps for its preservation.

It is known that the sculpture was controversial from the time of its creation. However, after a political shift, art enthusiasts cannot accept such a demolition. Students said the administration should have thought about how to enhance the beauty of the sculpture instead of demolishing it. They strongly condemned the act if the sculpture was destroyed from a communal mindset under religious pretext.

Since the July mass uprising, there has been evidence of many sculptures being demolished. Those were destroyed by fundamentalists; but now it is known that the Vice Chancellor of the university himself was involved in the demolition of the ‘Anjali Laho Mor’ sculpture. What kind of Vice Chancellor gives the order to destroy a sculpture of his own university? We want to know the reason behind the demolition of this sculpture.

Available information makes it clear that the current university administration made the decision to demolish the sculpture. The decision came from the Vice Chancellor himself. Journalists tried to contact the university’s Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Jahangir Alam regarding the matter but failed. His phone was found switched off. In such a situation, the very fact that his phone is switched off raises a big question.

Whoever is involved in the demolition of the sculpture must be brought to justice. If such a misdeed is tolerated, all the teachings of poet Nazrul will fail in this country.