Ruling Awami League, its front bodies and various other socio-cultural organisations on Sunday continued their protests against the anti-sculpture groups that have been opposing the installation of sculptures in the country.
However, Jubo League, the youth front of the ruling Awami League, and Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the party, and different other platforms staged demonstration across the country protesting the vandalism of an under construction sculpture of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Kushtia. Miscreants smashed an under construction sculpture in the early hours of Saturday.
Jubo League and Chhatra League brought out procession and held rally across the country. Awami League also staged demonstration in different districts. They demanded immediate identification and arrest of those involved in the demolition of Bangabandhu’s sculpture. Our district correspondents sent news items on the issue.
In Kushtia, Islamic University unit leaders and activists BCL staged demonstration on Sunday on the campus seeking immediate punishment of the miscreants who vandalised the sculpture of Bangabandu, reports our IU Correspondent
As per the central programme, the IU BCL men brought out a protest procession on the campus. After end of the procession, a human chain was formed at the feet of ‘Mrittunjoyee Mujib’ mural on campus.
Faisal Siddique Arafat, Mizanur Rahman Lalon, Shishir Islam Babu, Toukir Mahfuz Masud, Bipul Hossain Khan and Fahimur Rahman Setu attended the programme, among others.
Teachers and officers of IU Bangabandhu Parishad unit also protested the vandalism. Shapla Forum, progressive teachers’ alliance, also formed a human chain on the campus. IU pro-vice-chancellor Prof Dr M Shahinoor Rahman addressed the human chain, while the unit secretary Prof Dr M Mahbubar Rahman conducted it.
IUTA president Prof Dr Kazi Akhtar Hossain and Shapla Forum president Prof Dr M Rezuanul Islam spoke in the programme, among others.
In Nawabganj, Awami League leaders and activists brought out a protest procession from Nawabganj Central Shaheed Minar at noon. Later, they held a gathering at the foot of the Shaheed Minar. Upazila Muktijoddha Sangsad expressed solidarity with the rally, reports our Nawabganj Correspondent.
Dhaka district Awami League Organizing Secretary Paniruzzaman Tarun, Upazila Convener Mizanur Rahman Kismat, Joint Convener Dewan Awlad Hossain and others spoke at the gathering.
In Noakhali, Juba League blocked the road in front of the district AL office at Maijdi and staged a protest meeting at 3:30 pm. Later, a protest procession circled the main thoroughfares of the district town, reports our Noakhali Correspondent.
District Juba League convener Emon Bhatta presided over the meeting, addressed by AL leader Abdul Wadud Pintu, AKM Samsuddin Jehan and many others.
In Bogura, district Juba League held a protest meeting after holding a sit-in in front of the party office at Satmatha in the town in the morning, reports our Bogura Correspondent.
Meanwhile, district Chhatra League held another protest meeting following a protest rally at 12 noon.
Bogura district Awami League general secretary Ragebul Ahsan Ripu, Awami League leader T Zaman Niketa, Asadur Rahman Dulu and others spoke at both meeting.
In Pabna, a protest procession marched around the district town. Later, a protest meeting was held in front of the district Awami League office, reports our Pabna Correspondent.
Advocate Shamsul Haque Tuku MP, Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Ministry, M Saidul Haque Chunnu, Former Vice President of District Awami League and leaders of Awami League and its affiliated organizations were present at the meeting, chaired by Zila Parishad Chairman Rezaul Rahim Lal.
In Natore, a protest procession organised by Singra Upazila and Municipal Awami League started from the temporary upazila AL office and went around different roads in the town, reports our Natore Correspondent.
The rally ended at the Upazila Parishad premises, where Jannatul Ferdous, General Secretary of the municipal Awami League, Minhaj Uddin, joint general secretary of upazila Awami League, Ariful Islam, Lutful Habib and others addressed a brief meeting in this regard.
In Magura, the district Awami League staged a protest rally and brought out procession in the district town, reports our Magura Correspondent.
MP from Magura-1 constituency Advocate Saifuzzaman Shekhor led the procession. Acting president of district Awami League Abdul Fattah, Zila Parishad chairman and general secretary of district Awami League Pankaj Kundu, Sadar upazila chairman Abu Nasir Bablu joined the procession, among others.
At the protest rally, Saifuzzaman Shekhor MP said, “We have a lot of respect to alem-ulama. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has recognized Qwami Madrasa and developed the education system. Besides, 508 model mosques are being constructed across the country. Attempts are being made to obstruct the peaceful progress of Bangladesh as the country moves forward under the leadership of the Prime Minister. Those who have shown the audacity of vandalising the sculpture of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will have no place on the soil of Bengal. Noting that no concessions will be made to fundamentalist-militants.”
