HC asks govt to protect Bangabandhu’s sculptures, murals

The High Court today directed the authorities concerned of the government to immediately take necessary steps to protect sculptures and murals of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman across the country.

The HC also ordered the government to establish murals of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on office premises of all deputy commissioners and upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) across the country and to submit a report on the progress of setting up the murals to the court in a month.

The HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice Shahed Nuruddin came up with the order while hearing a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Dr Bashir Ahmed in November 2017, seeking necessary directives on this issue.

Earlier in the day, the cabinet secretary submitted a compliance report to the HC bench through Deputy Attorney General Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar, saying that the government has established murals of Bangabandhu on the office premises of Muktijoddha Councils at 380 upazilas of 63 districts.

During hearing, writ petitioner Bashir Ahmed prayed to the HC bench to pass necessary directives on the authorities concerned to ensure proper security of the monuments and murals of Bangabandhu, considering the incident of damaging an under-construction sculpture of Bangabandhu in Kushtia.

DAG Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar and writ petitioner Bashir Ahmed told The Daily Star that the government hasalready declared March 7 as "National Historic Day" in line with the HC's earlier order and also submitted a compliance report to this effect before the HC.