Removal of sculpture on SC premises

Criticism pours in

Different socio-cultural organisations and progressive students’ bodies have strongly condemned the removal of the statue of justice, or Lady Justice, from the Supreme Court (SC) premises. It was removed in the wee hours yesterday (Friday). As a protest, leaders and activists of various student bodies, including the Students’ Union, Chhatra Front and the Chhatra Federation, under the banner of Pragatishil Chhatra Jote, tried to gather in front of the High Court Mazar Chattar. But the police foiled their attempt by firing tear-gas shells and using water cannon.
When a group of protesters reached the front of the SC premises,  police obstructed them in front of Shishu Academy. This led to a scuffle and jostling, forcing the law enforcers to fire tear-gas shells and rubber bullets and use water cannon to disperse the crowd. At least 20 people were injured.
The injured were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The police detained four people, including Chhatra Union's central committee general secretary Liton Nandi, from the spot.
The protesters said they wanted to stage a peaceful demonstration against the removal of the statue, but were obstructed by the law enforcers. However, the police said they obstructed the protesters as the SC premises is a key-point installation (KPI) and such protests are not allowed here.
 In a press release later in the day, the Bangladesh Students’ Union demanded re-installation of the statue, considered as a "symbol of justice", on the SC premises. It also said the police

charged batons, fired tear-gas shells and used water cannon on their sit-in. It further said that the law enforcers arrested Liton nandy, Dhaka College Sangsad president Morshed Halim, Lalbagh Thana Students’ Union activist Joy and Udichi leader Arif Noor. It demanded immediate release of their leaders and activists and announced protests across the country.
It said that under the pressure of the Hefazat-e-Islam, writings of non-Muslims have been removed from textbooks and master’s degrees for Quami madrasas have been approved. Removal of the statue is part of the move, it added.
The Bangladesh Students’ Union strongly condemned the government’s move to compromise with the communal force to cling to power. It is an obstacle for building a non-communal Bangladesh and against the four principles of the state, it noted.
Protesting removal of the statue, Imran H Sarker, spokesman of Gonojagoron Mancha, said in a press release: “The government is using religion as a weapon of politics. Such use of religion in politics is contrary to the spirit of the Liberation War. This ugly practice of the ruling force will push the country towards the dark days of Pakistani rule.”
The statue of justice, made by the sculptor Mrinal Haque, was set up on the SC premises in December last year. Since then, several Islamic political parties, including the Hefazat-e-Islam, had been demanding its removal, saying it was “un-Islamic”. Finally, the statue was removed early yesterday and wrapped in a cloth before being put near the Annex building of the SC.
On April 9, 2017, a writ petition was filed before the High Court, seeking removal of the statue.
Besides, on February 11 this year, the Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh had demanded removal of the statue, saying there was no such idol in the apex courts of the US and neighbouring India. And there can never be an idol in the SC of a Muslim majority country like Bangladesh, declared the Islamic outfit.
At a meeting with top leaders of the Hefazat-e-Islam at Ganabhaban on April 11, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said she personally did not like the statue on the SC premises either.
On April 17, Hasina told her cabinet colleagues that she had asked the CJ either to remove the statue or re-install it at another place so that it cannot be seen from the National Eidgah.
Several Islamic organisations had even threatened to remove the statue before Ramadan, and it was done early yesterday, just two days before the holy month of fasting. The statue was removed in the presence of the sculptor, Mrinal Haque, who was deeply shocked and in tears. He said the statue has been been removed “under pressure”.
“I have been told to remove it. I am sorry but cannot say anything more. My mouth is sealed. I don’t know anything else,” he told the media.
He said the statue might be set up at any place of the annex building of the SC.
About the statue, Mrinal Haque said: “It’s not a Greek goddess. It’s a Bangalee girl wearing a sari and blouse.”
Attorney general Mahbubey Alam told the media that Chief Justice SK Sinha sought his opinion and the opinion of the SC Bar Association president, secretary general, senior lawyers on removal of the statue on Thursday.
“It was the decision of the court,” he added.
Protests will be held at educational institutions across the country on Saturday against police obstruction and the removal of the statue. The removal of the statue evoked sharp criticism from different quarters, like artists, rights activist and lawyers.
In a statement, United National Awami Party president Pankaj Bhattacharya condemned the removal of the statue so early in the day, with light yet to break out. “It’s a suicidal step to compromise with communal forces,” he said.
Leaders of Samprodayikota-Jongibad Birodhi Mancha expressed deep concern at the removal of the statue under the pressure of religious evil-forces.
Nisar Hossain, dean of the faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University, observed that most of the sculptures on road islands or on the streets are of poor quality in terms of artistic value. “But it does not mean they should not be there. But where they would remain is a decision that should be taken by those who had brought the country’s Independence, not by anti-Independence forces like Al-Badr and Rajakars,” he said.
An artist himself, Nasir Hossain suggested that the government should remove sculptures in terms of their artistic value. He told the media that he feels there should have been a better piece of artwork in its place. In his reaction, well-known lawyer Dr Shahdin Malik said that trying to control the SC and the bug of religious fear are not good signs for democracy.

Removal of sculpture on SC premises

Criticism pours in

Different socio-cultural organisations and progressive students bodies have strongly condemned the removal of the statue of justice, or Lady Justice, from the Supreme Court (SC) premises. It was removed in the wee hours yesterday (Friday). As a protest, leaders and activists of various student bodies, including the Students Union, Chhatra Front and the Chhatra Federation, under the banner of Pragatishil Chhatra Jote, tried to gather in front of the High Court Mazar Chattar. But the police foiled their attempt by firing tear-gas shells and using water cannon. When a group of protesters reached the front of the SC premises, police obstructed them in front of Shishu Academy. This led to a scuffle and jostling, forcing the law enforcers to fire tear-gas shells and rubber bullets and use water cannon to disperse the crowd. At least 20 people were injured. The injured were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The police detained four people, including Chhatra Unions central committee general secretary Liton Nandi, from the spot. The protesters said they wanted to stage a peaceful demonstration against the removal of the statue, but were obstructed by the law enforcers. However, the police said they obstructed the protesters as the SC premises is a key-point installation (KPI) and such protests are not allowed here. In a press release later in the day, the Bangladesh Students Union demanded re-installation of the statue, considered as a symbol of justice, on the SC premises. It also said the police charged batons, fired tear-gas shells and used water cannon on their sit-in. It further said that the law enforcers arrested Liton nandy, Dhaka College Sangsad president Morshed Halim, Lalbagh Thana Students Union activist Joy and Udichi leader Arif Noor. It demanded immediate release of their leaders and activists and announced protests across the country. It said that under the pressure of the Hefazat-e-Islam, writings of non-Muslims have been removed from textbooks and masters degrees for Quami madrasas have been approved. Removal of the statue is part of the move, it added. The Bangladesh Students Union strongly condemned the governments move to compromise with the communal force to cling to power. It is an obstacle for building a non-communal Bangladesh and against the four principles of the state, it noted. Protesting removal of the statue, Imran H Sarker, spokesman of Gonojagoron Mancha, said in a press release: The government is using religion as a weapon of politics. Such use of religion in politics is contrary to the spirit of the Liberation War. This ugly practice of the ruling force will push the country towards the dark days of Pakistani rule. The statue of justice, made by the sculptor Mrinal Haque, was set up on the SC premises in December last year. Since then, several Islamic political parties, including the Hefazat-e-Islam, had been demanding its removal, saying it was un-Islamic. Finally, the statue was removed early yesterday and wrapped in a cloth before being put near the Annex building of the SC. On April 9, 2017, a writ petition was filed before the High Court, seeking removal of the statue. Besides, on February 11 this year, the Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh had demanded removal of the statue, saying there was no such idol in the apex courts of the US and neighbouring India. And there can never be an idol in the SC of a Muslim majority country like Bangladesh, declared the Islamic outfit. At a meeting with top leaders of the Hefazat-e-Islam at Ganabhaban on April 11, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said she personally did not like the statue on the SC premises either. On April 17, Hasina told her cabinet colleagues that she had asked the CJ either to remove the statue or re-install it at another place so that it cannot be seen from the National Eidgah. Several Islamic organisations had even threatened to remove the statue before Ramadan, and it was done early yesterday, just two days before the holy month of fasting. The statue was removed in the presence of the sculptor, Mrinal Haque, who was deeply shocked and in tears. He said the statue has been been removed under pressure. I have been told to remove it. I am sorry but cannot say anything more. My mouth is sealed. I dont know anything else, he told the media. He said the statue might be set up at any place of the annex building of the SC. About the statue, Mrinal Haque said: Its not a Greek goddess. Its a Bangalee girl wearing a sari and blouse. Attorney general Mahbubey Alam told the media that Chief Justice SK Sinha sought his opinion and the opinion of the SC Bar Association president, secretary general, senior lawyers on removal of the statue on Thursday. It was the decision of the court, he added. Protests will be held at educational institutions across the country on Saturday against police obstruction and the removal of the statue. The removal of the statue evoked sharp criticism from different quarters, like artists, rights activist and lawyers. In a statement, United National Awami Party president Pankaj Bhattacharya condemned the removal of the statue so early in the day, with light yet to break out. Its a suicidal step to compromise with communal forces, he said. Leaders of Samprodayikota-Jongibad Birodhi Mancha expressed deep concern at the removal of the statue under the pressure of religious evil-forces. Nisar Hossain, dean of the faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University, observed that most of the sculptures on road islands or on the streets are of poor quality in terms of artistic value. But it does not mean they should not be there. But where they would remain is a decision that should be taken by those who had brought the countrys Independence, not by anti-Independence forces like Al-Badr and Rajakars, he said. An artist himself, Nasir Hossain suggested that the government should remove sculptures in terms of their artistic value. He told the media that he feels there should have been a better piece of artwork in its place. In his reaction, well-known lawyer Dr Shahdin Malik said that trying to control the SC and the bug of religious fear are not good signs for democracy.