RU fine arts students vandalise sculptures

They claim the act to be a show of protest

Some fine arts department students at Rajshahi University (RU) allegedly vandalised around 300 wood and concrete sculptures on Monday night. They were apparently demanding that the authorities showcase and curate their academic work properly.
The RU unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, the students’ wing of the ruling Awami League, demonstrated against the incident with a procession on the campus around 11am yesterday. They demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.
Imran Hossain Anik and Yousuf Hossain Shadin, master’s degree students of the department, admitted carrying out the vandalism to the media. They said around 35 to 40 students of the department dismantled the sculptures to protest against the absence of a security fence and a gallery as well as session jams.  “We did it for the development of the department and to meet our demand,” claimed one of them.  
“We had presented our demands to our chairman and other authorities several times, but they paid no heed,” he said.
Another protester, Sunjoy Kumar, said, “Fine arts has eight departments and around 70 courses. But only 35 teachers take classes and conduct exams, whereas it needs at least 70 teachers. Eight department chairmen use one office room.”  The authorities of the faculty wondered how a so-called “protest” could be staged in the darkness of the night.
“We have primarily identified five to seven students who dismantled the artworks. All of them, including Yusuf Ali and Imran Hossain Anik, are final-year students,” Dr Anwar said.
“Such a mode of protest is unacceptable especially in the current situation in the country,” he added.
Responding to a question, Dr Anwar said: “We have no knowledge of their political backgrounds.”  He, however, admitted the shortage of office space, classrooms and teachers.
“How can one restore respect to artwork by disrespecting them,” wondered Rajsahahi district Fazla Hossain Badsha.  “We condemn the incident. These protesters have boosted the morale of fundamentalists,” he added.
“As a cultural activist and teachers’ executive, I do not believe that honour can be
restored to a creation I love by destroying or dishonouring it,” said RU Teachers’ Association general secretary Prof. De Shah Azam Shantanu.
He demanded an investigation to find out whether fundamentalists were involved with the incident and immediate steps from the authorities against those found guilty.
Many students criticised the manner of “protest”.
“Why did they destroy our work instead of going for a strike?” fumed Tania, a first-year student of the printing department. She felt they should have used the “traditional mode” of protest.
The dean of fine arts, Dr Mostafizur Rahman, said: “We will take a decision after holding a meeting."
He claimed they have information about the students’ political background.
Proctor Mojibul Haque Azad said: “We will take punitive action against the culprits.”
Acting vice-chancellor and treasurer, Prof. Dr Sayen Uddin Ahmed, could not be contacted for his comments.

RU fine arts students vandalise sculptures

They claim the act to be a show of protest

Some fine arts department students at Rajshahi University (RU) allegedly vandalised around 300 wood and concrete sculptures on Monday night. They were apparently demanding that the authorities showcase and curate their academic work properly. The RU unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, the students wing of the ruling Awami League, demonstrated against the incident with a procession on the campus around 11am yesterday. They demanded immediate arrest of the culprits. Imran Hossain Anik and Yousuf Hossain Shadin, masters degree students of the department, admitted carrying out the vandalism to the media. They said around 35 to 40 students of the department dismantled the sculptures to protest against the absence of a security fence and a gallery as well as session jams. We did it for the development of the department and to meet our demand, claimed one of them. We had presented our demands to our chairman and other authorities several times, but they paid no heed, he said. Another protester, Sunjoy Kumar, said, Fine arts has eight departments and around 70 courses. But only 35 teachers take classes and conduct exams, whereas it needs at least 70 teachers. Eight department chairmen use one office room. The authorities of the faculty wondered how a so-called protest could be staged in the darkness of the night. We have primarily identified five to seven students who dismantled the artworks. All of them, including Yusuf Ali and Imran Hossain Anik, are final-year students, Dr Anwar said. Such a mode of protest is unacceptable especially in the current situation in the country, he added. Responding to a question, Dr Anwar said: We have no knowledge of their political backgrounds. He, however, admitted the shortage of office space, classrooms and teachers. How can one restore respect to artwork by disrespecting them, wondered Rajsahahi district Fazla Hossain Badsha. We condemn the incident. These protesters have boosted the morale of fundamentalists, he added. As a cultural activist and teachers executive, I do not believe that honour can be restored to a creation I love by destroying or dishonouring it, said RU Teachers Association general secretary Prof. De Shah Azam Shantanu. He demanded an investigation to find out whether fundamentalists were involved with the incident and immediate steps from the authorities against those found guilty. Many students criticised the manner of protest. Why did they destroy our work instead of going for a strike? fumed Tania, a first-year student of the printing department. She felt they should have used the traditional mode of protest. The dean of fine arts, Dr Mostafizur Rahman, said: We will take a decision after holding a meeting. He claimed they have information about the students political background. Proctor Mojibul Haque Azad said: We will take punitive action against the culprits. Acting vice-chancellor and treasurer, Prof. Dr Sayen Uddin Ahmed, could not be contacted for his comments.