4 remanded over attempt to smear ink on Rabindranath graffiti

A Dhaka court today (11 October) placed four people on remand in a case filed over an attempt to smear ink on a wall portrait of Rabindranath Tagore outside Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital's Segunbagicha, in a case involving allegations of criminal conspiracy, spreading hatred and hurting religious sentiments.

Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam passed the order after a hearing in the afternoon, said Shah Alam, a sub-inspector of the prosecution department.

The court granted three days' remand for ANM Ayas, 29, member secretary of the State Dialogue Forum, and Md Sakibul Hasan, 19. Md Sujon Mia, 18, and Marzia Khandaker Rimi, 27, were placed on two days' remand each.

Earlier, Shahbagh Police Station Sub-Inspector (SI) Md Abdul Gaffar Himel, the investigating officer, produced the accused before the court and sought 10 days' remand for each of them.

Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Omar Faruk Faruqui argued in favour of remand, while defence lawyer Monir Hossain Sumon sought the cancellation of the remand pleas and bail for the accused.

Shahbagh Police Station Sub-Inspector Ziaul Haque filed the case on 10 October over the alleged attempt to deface Tagore's portrait.

The accused face allegations of criminal conspiracy, creating enmity among different groups and hurting religious sentiments.

On 10 October, a group of young people, including Ayas, allegedly attempted to smear ink on the portrait of Rabindranath Tagore painted on a wall outside Shilpakala Academy.

Police intervened, and four people, including Ayas, were detained and taken to the police station following an argument between the two sides.

A woman was seen attempting to smear ink on Tagore's portrait, prompting a police officer to stop her. She said they had come to protest against what she described as "Indian aggression". The group, led by Ayas, also chanted slogans when police intervened.

On 5 October, Dhaka South City Corporation cleared the footpath in Segunbagicha of illegal occupation. Portraits of 10 prominent figures from art, literature and culture were subsequently painted on the adjacent wall.

The figures included Rabindranath Tagore, National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, artist Zainul Abedin, filmmaker Satyajit Ray and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.

On 9 October, a Facebook page named "July Revolutionary Alliance" questioned the decision to paint the portraits, describing Satyajit Ray and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar as cultural figures from West Bengal.

The following day, a group led by Ayas of the State Dialogue Forum went to the site to erase the portraits.