Fundamentalists create controversy over Bangabandhu’s sculpture: Quader

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has come down hard on radicals saying that a group of communal forces are making unexpected debates over the sculpture of Bangabndhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“The imaginary clarification over the statue of Bangabandhu is a challenge to the spirit of our Liberation War and the country’s culture,” Quader also road transport and bridges minister said while addressing a virtual press conference from his residence on the parliament premise on Saturday.

A religious communal group is trying to hatch an evil effort to spread anger in the people’s minds by giving misleading clarification over the statue of father of the nation, the Awami League leader said.

“Don’t consider the government as weak. People will resist your attempt to destroy their peace. Any speech that goes against interest of the state, the spirit of its liberation war and constitution will not be tolerated,” he sounded the note of caution.

“The head of our state (PM Sheikh Hasina) has earlier said that no act against the Quran and the Sinnah will be incorporated in the country,” Quader said adding that attempt is on to destroy the country’s religious harmony centering the sculpture issue of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“We will deal the issue with our strong hands,” he said pointing his finger at the fundamentalist leaders.

Earlier on Friday, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque said the anti-liberation forces are out to create an issue over Bangabandhu’s sculpture when the country is on the way to become a ‘Sonar Bangla’ as dreamt by Father of the Nation.

“The people will give befitting reply to all conspiracies centering Bangabandhu’s sculpture,” he told a cultural function organised to mark the 44th anniversary of Wrishij Shilpi Gosthi at Shilpakala Academy in the capital city.

All statues will be torn down: Junaid Babunagari

New chief of Hefazat-e-Islam, Junaid Babunagari has threatened to pull down all the statues, no matter which party erected them, reports news agency IANS.

“The statues are against the Sharia, no matter whose statue it is. I won’t name a party or leader. But I swear by Allah, if someone erects a statue, even of my father, I will be the first to pull it down. I will pull down statues no matter which party erects them,” the radical leader warned.

Babungari made the statement along with four demands to the government from a Hathazari mahfil in Chattogram on Friday night.