Remark on Bangabandhu’s Sculpture: Mamunul, Faizul declared ‘unwanted’
Activists of a faction of Muktijuddho Moncho yesterday blocked the capital's Shahbagh intersection for an hour, demanding arrest of two leaders of Hefajat-e-Islam and Islami Andolan Bangladesh for opposing establishment of Bangabandhu's sculpture.
Several hundred people took to the street at Shahbagh intersection around 4pm and blocked all the roads leading to the intersection, mounting sufferings for commuters. Many vehicles were seen stuck on roads or trying to find an alternative route to avoid gridlock caused by the blockade.
During the demonstration, activists placed their seven-point demand, including the arrest of Mamunul Haque, joint secretary general of Hefajat-e-Islam, and Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim, senior naib-e-amir of Islami Andolan.
Their other demands include setting up sculptures of Bangabandhu at every educational institution, districts and upazilas; imposing ban on religion-based politics to maintain communal harmony; stopping political activities in mosques and madrasas; overhauling madrasa education system and formation of monitoring cell to prevent sexual assault on students; and taking necessary steps to play national anthem, hoisting national flag and establishing Shaheed Minar at educational institutions across the country.
Protesters initially gathered at the base of Raju Memorial Sculpture at Dhaka University and later moved to Shahbagh.
"We are declaring Mamunul and Faizul unwanted across the country... We will go for tougher movement if they are not arrested immediately," said Moncho president Aminul Islam Bulbul. Leaders of the platform also issued a 24-hour ultimatum to arrest the duo.
They also announced to hold human chains and protest rallies simultaneously across the country at 3pm on December 1.
Moncho activists left the intersection at 5pm.
Meanwhile, a cross section of people in Thakurgaon also formed a human chain in this regard yesterday.
The district unit of Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee organised the event where leaders and activists of different socio-political parties took part. Speakers demanded exemplary punishment for those made the derogatory comments regarding statues or sculptures of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
They said some fundamentalist groups are trying to destabilise the country. Religion-based politics should be banned in order to maintain communal harmony and the government should take stern action against them, activists added.
Among others, district unit joint secretary of Awami League ASM Golam Farukh Rubel, district unit general secretary of Nirmul Committee Suchorita Sen Gupta, district unit president of Udichi Setara Begum and district unit president of Swechhasebak League Nazmul Huda Shah spoke at the event.
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