Dislodged Sculptures at RU: Students did it to 'protest'
Some students of the Faculty of Fine Arts in Rajshahi University have dislodged around 500 sculptures and left those scattered on the faculty premises, "protesting the lack of protection of their works".
They claimed that they did this to realise their demand for proper protection of their works. They fear religious bigots would damage their sculptures.
This happened within a week of the Chittagong University incident in which some unidentified men on motorcycles smeared engine oil on the wall art made by fine arts students ahead of Pahela Baishakh.
The authorities of the Rajshahi University faculty identified seven students who are behind dislodging of the sculptures.
The Daily Star talked to three of the students who said they along with some 30-40 students dislodged the sculptures at night.
Although most teachers and students demanded an investigation into the incident and punishment of those involved, the faculty authorities termed the incident “the work of immature students".
In a meeting yesterday, the faculty's academic committee condemned the incident and requested the university authorities to look into the matter.
Two RU assistant proctors -- Shamim Ahmed and Zihad Ahmed -- talked to the students involved in the incident and rebuked them.
Assistant Proctor Shamim said they could not take any step, as the university has no vice-chancellor and pro-vice chancellor for the last one month. “We hope a body will be formed to investigate the incident."
Jamil Erphan, a security guard of the faculty, noticed the matter around 8:30am yesterday.
"I saw the beautiful sculptures of concrete and wood lying on the ground. Art works built for Pahela Baishakh celebrations were broken and scattered on the road. Some small sculptures were left leaning against the doors of teachers' rooms," said Jamil.
Hundreds of art works of students were kept on display on the faculty premises.
When students and teachers were angry and were suspecting religious fanatics were behind it, some students claimed responsibility.
“We did it in protest, but we are being misunderstood," said Emran Hossain Anik, a final-year student of ceramics and sculpture department.
Yusuf Ali, a final-year student of the same department, said, "After this incident, the authorities will hopefully pay attention for preserving our works.”
Prof Mostafijur Rahman, dean of RU's Faculty of Fine Arts, said, “It was not a big deal. Some dissatisfied students did it to express their anger, and they should go to the authorities before doing such a thing.”
Prof Siddhartha Shankar Talukder, a teacher of ceramics and sculpture department, said damaging the sculptures and dislodging those were alike. “This incident will add fuel to the fundamentalists' activities against sculptures and art works."
Our RU correspondent contributed to this report.