JU Live: Teachers of Jahangirnagar University (JU) on Tuesday have demonstrated on the university campus protesting against the vandalism of an under-construction sculpture of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Kushtia.
Under the banner of 'Bangabandhu Shikkhok Parishad', the teachers brought out a protest procession from the university's central shaheed minar premises around 10.30am.
After parading different streets on the campus, the protest march ended at Dhaka-Aricha highway adjacent to the university's main gate followed by a human chain.Speakers at the human chain urged the government to ensure exemplary punishment to the miscreants as early as possible. They also demanded the installation of a world-class sculpture of Bangabandhu at the university campus.
Addressing the human chain, Professor Dr. Sohel Ahmed of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology department said, 'The attack on the Bangabandhu sculpture at night reminds us the black night of March 25 in 1971. Hitting the sculpture of Bangabandhu in the month of victory means hitting the independence of the country.
Some religious businessmen are destroying the country by exploiting religious sentiments. We all have to be united in the spirit of 1971 and have to work to protect the independence of the country."
Professor A Mamun, president of Jahangirnagar University Teachers Association (JUTA) said, 'Anti-independence forces are still carrying out their activities in the country. Those who do not recognize the architect of independence Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, have no right to stay in Bangladesh. We have to stand up against those who politicize religion in this country.'
Through a virtual connection, JU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Farzana Islam expressed solidarity with the human chain.
JU VC said, "Sculpture is part of history, tradition, art and literature.The sculpture of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is a symbol of our freedom and consciousness. Vandalism of Bangabandhu's sculpture means an attack on the independence and existence of Bangladesh.
Those who has committed this heinous act must be given exemplary punishment. We will soon install a sculpture of Bangabandhu in our campus."
Conducted by general secretary of Bangabandhu Shikhhok Parishad, Professor Dr. Bashir Ahmed, director of Teacher-Student center (TSC), Professor Dr. Mohammad Alamgir Kabir, Professor Dr. Jebunnessa, acting proctor ASM Firoz Ul Hasan, assistant proctor MohiburRouf Shaibal, spoke at the programme, among others.Earlier, on Last Satuday, amid growing opposition from some Islamist groups, including Hifazat-e Islam, to sculptures and statues, miscreants vandalised an under-construction sculpture of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Kushtia city.
The face and hands of the sculpture were damaged.The incident sparked protests across Bangladesh.
Dhaka, 08 December (campuslive24.com)//bsc