July martyr Mugdho's mural in Brahmanbaria defaced with black paint

A mural of July martyr Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho was smeared with black paint early today in Brahmanbaria,

The incident occurred sometime between Monday night and dawn today near the Degree College in Chinair -- at the home village of R A M Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury, arrested Awami League leader and former minister -- located in Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila.

The vandalism has triggered strong reactions, with locals expressing shock and condemnation.

Mugdho was shot dead in Uttara, Dhaka, on July 18, 2024. After August 5, murals were installed across the country, including at Chinair, where a damaged portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was replaced with Mugdho's image.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a local resident said tensions had been rising between two groups regarding a recent reception programme at the college and suggested the vandalism might have been carried out to falsely implicate someone in the ongoing dispute.

Ali Azam, assistant professor of Chinair Degree College, echoed a similar concern, saying a quarter with vested interest may have used the conflict as an opportunity to stir unrest in an otherwise peaceful area.

Ujjal Ahmed, joint general secretary of the district Jubo Dal and one of the organisers behind Mugdho's memorial initiatives, said he was deeply saddened and called for justice.

Azizur Rahman Liton, district convenor of the National Citizen Party (NCP), said, "Those who contributed to the second liberation of the country deserve respect. Defiling a monument dedicated to one of them is disgraceful."

When contacted, Brahmanbaria Sadar Model Police Station OC Mohammad Azharul Islam said police had inspected the site and would take legal action following an investigation.