It's surrender to bigots
The government would be bowing to communal forces if it decided to remove the statue from the Supreme Court premises, writers, publishers and cultural activists yesterday.
Speaking at a rally, they also termed defacing a wall painting near the Institute of Fine Arts of Chittagong University and changes in textbooks in face of demands by those “forces” attacks on the spirit of the Bangalees.
Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi organised the rally in front of the National Museum in the capital's Shahbagh protesting what it said was “attack on the spirit of Pahela Baishakh and the government's mindless surrender to bigots”.
Central leaders of the cultural platform said they held similar protest rallies across the country yesterday, at a time when they were supposed to stay busy in making preparations for Pahela Baishakh, the Bangla New Year.
Meanwhile, rights body Ain O Salish Kendra has expressed deep concerns over the Hefajat-e Islam's attempt to remove the statue and the government decision to recognise Qawmi madrasa certificates.
In a statement, ASK said the incident of defacing the CU Fine Arts Institute graffiti was frustrating.
“Pahela Baishakh represents our tradition. It is a collective and secular festival. However, defacing wall painting with burnt lubricant and Hefajat's irrational comment [over the statue removal] ahead of Bangla New Year created panic among people,” reads the statement.
On Tuesday, the government said it would recognise Dawra degree of Qawmi madrasa as equivalent to Master's degree at a meeting with some 350 representatives of Qawmi madrasas at the Gono Bhaban.
At the meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said she did not like setting up the statue of “Greek Goddess Themis” on the SC premises, reported UNB.
Around Tuesday midnight, unknown miscreants smeared graffiti painted on roadside walls near the CU institute with burnt lubricants.
Speaking at yesterday's rally, publisher Robin Ahsan expressed concerns that once government implement the demand of Hefajat-e-Islam by removing the statue, they may seek removal of other sculptures from across the country.
Slamming the government move to recognise Qawmi madrasa certificates, Bangladesh Chhatra Union President GM Zilani Shuvo claimed that the national flag is not raised at the madrasas and “they also don't play the national anthem”. “Have these issues been fixed?” he questioned.
Badiur Rahman, vice president of Udichi central committee, said the government decision was a “stark attack on the Bangali culture”. He also called for launching a nationwide movement against the decision.
Udichi Central Committee President Shafiuddin Ahmed and Gonojagoron Mancha activist Jibananda Jayanta, among others, spoke at the rally.
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