The identity of the masked youth seen setting fire to a motif of fascism at the Faculty of Fine Art in Dhaka University has been identified, but the police have yet to make any arrest.

The CCTV footage of the incident, which occurred early Saturday ahead of the Pahela Baishakh Ananda Shobhajatra, went viral on social media on Sunday.

Following it, students of the Department of Arabic at Dhaka University began discussing the incident, alleging that the masked individual is a student from their department and affiliated with the Bangladesh Chhatra League, the banned student wing of the Awami League.

Sources at the DU campus said the youth, a student of the 2021-22 academic session, used to reside in Masterda Surja Sen Hall. He is known to be a follower of Mazharul Kabir Shayon, the president of the Dhaka University unit of the banned student organisation. He has reportedly not been seen in the hall of residence since the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August last year.

Despite assurances by Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sheikh Mohammad Sazzat Ali that the suspect would be arrested before the procession began at 9am on Monday, no arrest has been made so far.

Police officials said that disclosing the suspect's identity publicly has made the arrest more challenging, as the youth will likely attempt to evade capture.

“The disclosure of the suspect’s identity makes it difficult for us to arrest him, as he will now try to remain in hiding,” said Masud, deputy commissioner of DMP’s Ramna Division. “However, efforts are ongoing to trace the suspect and his accomplices.”

A case was filed with Shahbagh police station in connection with the incident on Saturday.

The arson destroyed two motifs – Face of Fascism and Dove of Peace, which were part of the annual Borsho Boron Ananda Shobhajatra, a colourful procession celebrating the Bengali New Year.