HC directs to punish culprits involved in damaging Bangabandhu's sculpture

The High Court today directed the authorities concerned of the government to take appropriate legal action against the culprits who were involved in damaging a sculpture of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Kushtia.

The court also asked the director general of Bangladesh Islamic Foundation and Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque to take necessary steps to build awareness among the people through print and electronic media and other means that the monuments, statues, portraits and murals of Bangabandhu are the symbol of independence, history, heritage and glory of Bangladesh and they are not contradictory to the religion.

The HC issued a rule asking the authorities to explain in four weeks why they should not be directed to prosecute the perpetrators involved in damaging the monuments of Bangabandhu on charges of sedition and violation of the constitution.

The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam came up with the order and rule following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Uttam Kumar Lahery seeking necessary directives on this issue.

Nahid Sultana Juthi, Shah Monjurul Hoque and several other lawyers appeared for the petitioner, while Attorney General AM Amin Uddin represented the state.

Following the recent incident of damaging an under-constitution sculpture of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Kushtia, Uttam Kumar Lahery filed the petition with the HC on December 6 seeking its directives on the government to protect and preserve all the sculptures, including that of the Father of the Nation.

Secretaries to the ministries of home, liberation and religion affairs, inspector general of police, director general of Bangladesh Islamic Foundation and Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque have been made respondents in the rule and directive.

READ MORE: Writ petition filed to protect all sculptures including Bangabandhu's