4 remanded over Rabindranath’s graffiti defacement

A Dhaka court on Sunday placed four accused on remand in a case filed over the alleged defacement of graffiti depicting Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore on a boundary wall opposite Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital’s Segunbagicha.

The accused, Al Nur Mohammad Ayash, member secretary of the Rashtra Sanglap Forum, and Md Sakibul Hasan, 19, were placed on three-day remand, while Md Sujon Mia, 18, and Marzia Khandaker Rimi, 26, were placed on two-day remand.

Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam passed the order after a hearing, said state prosecutor Samsuddoha Sumon.

Earlier in the day, Shahbagh police station Sub-Inspector Md Abdul Gaffar Himel sought a 10-day remand for the accused.

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

According to the remand application, the graffiti were painted on a Public Works Department (PWD) boundary wall after hawkers were evicted from the adjacent footpath as part of the Dhaka South City Corporation's eviction drive.

On 9 October, Ayash reportedly announced that he would erase the graffiti by whitewashing them. At around 11:30am the following day, the accused and several unidentified people gathered in front of the wall, the application added.

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Police seek remand for four over Rabindranath’s graffiti defacement

According to the application, Ayash made remarks referring to the graves of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's grandparents in Pakistan and the tomb of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He said Jinnah's nameplate was written in both Urdu and Bengali and criticised those who verbally abused Jinnah without reason.

Another accused, Marzia Khandaker Rimi, reportedly said they had gathered to protest against Indian aggression, alleging that Muslims had faced oppression under Rabindranath Tagore's zamindari.

Rimi then allegedly smeared black ink over the graffiti depicting Tagore, saying that they did not want to see the poet's portrait on any wall in Bangladesh, according to the application.

Police also alleged that the accused had attempted to spread religious hatred ahead of the upcoming Durga Puja, creating discord over religious sentiments and communal harmony.

A case was filed with Shahbagh police station on Sunday under Sections 120B, 153A and 295A of the Penal Code, 1860.

The remand application further stated that the accused had allegedly failed to provide information during preliminary questioning about who had directed the incident, why it had been carried out and who had assisted them.

Police said the remand was necessary to ensure a proper investigation and uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident.