Ensure Security of All Bangabandhu Sculptures: HC

On Monday, the High Court (HC) asked the authorities concerned to take steps to ensure the safety of all Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman sculptures across the country.

Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice Shahed Nuruddin's HC bench passed the order and directed the secretary of the Cabinet Division to enforce the order, reports UNB.

While Deputy Attorney General Abdullah AL Mahmud Bashar represented the state, Advocate Bashir Ahmed stood for the petitioner.

On Sunday, the High Court filed a writ petition seeking the protection of all the sculptures, including those of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, throughout the country.

The writ petition was filed by Supreme Court Lawyer Uttam Lahiri.

The writ sought a law seeking the respondents' required directive to prevent disorder from cantering the establishment of the sculpture of Bangabandhu.

It also sought directives over proper steps by Islamic Foundation Director General and Khatib of Baitul Mukarram Mosque to resist confusion among people centering sculptures.

The Secretaries of the Home Ministry, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, the Chief of Police, the Director-General of the Islamic Foundation, and the Khatib of the Baitul Mukarram Mosque were called respondents to the writ.

Controversies have recently been stirred by the making of Bangabandhu's sculpture in the capital.

An under-built sculpture of Bangabandhu was vandalized in Kushtia on Saturday.

On November 13, Islami Andolan Bangladesh Nayeb-e-Ameer Faizul Karim and Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque opposed the setting up of the sculpture.

Earlier, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader made it clear that any attempt to destroy religious tolerance in the country would be dealt with strictly.

On February 25, the High Court directed the government to declare March 7 as the ‘National Historic Day’ and issue a gazette notification in this regard within a month.

The court also sought the progress report on the matter within a month.

It issued a directive for installing the mural of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in all districts and upazilas of the country within the ‘Mujib Borsho’.

On March 4, 2018, the HC issued another rule asking the government to explain as to why directives should not be given to set up a Bangabandhu’s speech-mode sculpture at the place where he had delivered the historic 7th March Speech in 1971.