High Court: Take action on those creating anarchy over statues

The High Court has ordered concerned authorities to take necessary legal measures against those involved in the damaging sculptures of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and others, and for demeaning the Father of the Nation.

The court also asked the Pesh Imam (main preacher) of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque to contact mass media to seek help in creating awareness regarding sculptures, murals and monuments in the country.

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Furthermore, the court also issued a rule asking concerned authorities to explain why sedition cases should not be filed against the vandals and their patrons.

A virtual bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam passed the order on Tuesday, in line with a writ petition filed on Sunday seeking security of all the sculptures, including those of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

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Advocate Nahid Sultana Juthi accompanied by Shagufta Tabassum Ahmed stood for the writ while Attorney General AM Amin Uddin represented the state.

Supreme Court lawyer Uttam Lahery, who filed the writ petition, confirmed the development to Dhaka Tribune.

The latest development comes a day after another High Court bench ordered the government to ensure protection for the murals and sculptures of Bangabandhu across Bangladesh.

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In the early hours of Saturday, miscreants smashed an under-construction sculpture of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at a key intersection in Kushtia town. The face and hands of the sculpture were vandalized.

The incident took place amid protests by various Islamist organizations across the country, opposing the installation of Bangabandhu's sculpture.