Police looking for unidentified youth who climbed DU Fine Arts Faculty wall, set fire to Pahela Baishakh motifs

Highlights

• Unidentified youth climbed the wall of Fine Arts Faculty and set fire to the two motifs
• A case has been filed
• One of the motifs symbolised fascism in the shape of a demon-like human face
• The second motif symbolised peace in the shape of a pigeon
• Police are trying to nab the culprit

An unidentified youth climbed the wall of Dhaka University's (DU) Fine Arts faculty and set fire to the two motifs built for Pahela Baishakh celebrations early today (12 April), according to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

"We are trying to identify the youth and nab him," DMP Deputy Commissioner (Ramna Division) Masud Alam told The Business Standard.

Two motifs prepared for the upcoming Pahela Baishakh celebrations were gutted in a fire early today. One of the motifs was a humanoid face symbolising fascism and it was completely burnt, while the other — a pigeon symbolising peace — was partially damaged.

Meanwhile, in connection with the incident, Mohammad Amanullah, a supervisor at the university's estate office, filled a case with Shahbagh Police Station against unidentified leaders and activists of the banned Chhatra League.

Confirming about the case, Shahbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Khalid Monsur said, "A case has been filed. We are investigating the matter. Police have started collecting evidence from the spot."

According to the case document, unidentified activists associated with the Awami League, Jubo League, the banned Chhatra League, and other affiliated wings entered the southern gate of the Faculty of Fine Arts around 4:50am and reportedly set fire to one of the motifs.

Police sources said CCTV footage captured a man in a black T-shirt setting the motif on fire before fleeing the scene.

DU Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed said, "We are assuming that the fire incident happened between 4:45am and 5am. Members of the mobile team responsible for taking care of the motifs were away for Fajr prayers when the fire started."

Fire Service and Civil Defence officials have said the way just these two motifs burned down in the fire is suspicious.

Asked how the fire started, Siddikbazar Fire Station Officer Ruhul Amin told Prothom Alo, "Many motifs have been built for Pahela Baishakh Celebrations at the Faculty of Fine Arts premises. The burning of only two motifs is suspicious."

According to the control room at Fire Service headquarters, the call regarding the fire came at 5:04am. Two units from Siddikbazar Fire Station went and doused the flames at 5:22am.

Md Shahjahan Shikder, a deputy assistant director and in-charge of the Fire Service media cell, said they will be able to determine how the fire started after a proper investigation.

Senior officials of Dhaka University, including the vice-chancellor and the proctor, visited the spot in the presence of police members.

Earlier in the morning, the Fine Arts faculty issued a notice, expressing sorrow over the fire.

The DU authorities have formed a five-member committee to investigate the incident, reports Prothom Alo.

The incident took place just a day after the Faculty of Fine Arts announced that the traditional "Mongol Shobhajatra" procession, a central part of Pahela Baishakh celebrations, has been renamed "Anondo Shobhajatra".

This year, the resolution of Pahela Baishakh celebrations has been fixed as "Unity of Noboborsha, End of Fascism."

Keeping this resolution in mind, the shape of fascism's face was prepared as the main motif. The 20-foot-long motif was built with bamboo and cane and had a woman's face with big teeth, in a reference to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Fascism's face had four horns on its head, while the mouth was kept open and the nose and eyes were large in size and fearful.

Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has alleged that "Hasina's cohorts" burned the two motifs ahead of the Pahela Baishakh celebrations.

In a Facebook post on his verified account this morning, he described the incident as an attack on unity and expression.