New Age | Attack on sculptures, murals alarming: artists, activists

Artists and cultural activists on Sunday said attacks on sculptures and murals are alarming for Bangladeshi culture because they contain thousands of years through art.

Artist Azharul Islam Sheikh Chanchal, artist-critic Mustafa Zaman and teacher of the sculpture department at the Fine Arts faculty of Dhaka University Nasimul Khabir Duke said that the government must take steps to stop countrywide attacks on sculptures and murals, which are set on public-private places and create awareness about conservation of art among the mass-people. They also demand immediate steps to restore the art works damaged during the vandalism. 

‘Not only sculptures, many murals of different places were attacked countrywide after the resignation of the Sheikh Hasina government which was alarming for our culture. I visited several times in the Swadhinata Sangram sculpture garden which comprises liberation memorial sculptures with portraits of prominent persons of Bengali culture at Dhaka University created by famous sculptor Shamim Sikder. It comprises 218 different size sculptures which shed light on the history of the last thousand years. I think destroying the sculpture will not be able to erase history but it’s not good for our culture,’ said Azharul Islam Sheikh Chanchal.

‘I urge the government to take steps to protect our artworks and create awareness about conservation of art among the mass-people,’ he added.

‘Common people always attack the icon of the dictatorship, it’s predictable but as an artist I feel hurt when I know that the Swadhinata Sangram sculpture garden was attacked,’ Mustafa Zaman said, adding. ‘The government must restore the sculptures as early as possible’.   

With lack of maintenance, the university administration was not aware about safety of the Swadhinata Sangram sculpture garden because they know that sculptor Shamim Sikder was not part of their syndicate but they need to ensure more security to protect the artworks, he added.   

Echoing Mustafa Zaman, Nasimul Khabir Duke stressed to restore and repair the sculptures which were attacked during the mass vandalism after the resignation of the Sheikh Hasina government.

‘I think the attack on the sculptures was pre-planned. Many communal groups were targeted many times to destroy the sculpture of the country, I want to believe that the students were not attacking the sculptures during this mass uprising,’ said Nasimul Khabir Duke.

‘After this attack, people are now aware about protecting artworks and sculptures, and we urge the government to take immediate steps about restoring the sculptures because some people will try to again destroy other sculptures which are inconsistent to our history and culture,’ ended Nasimul Khabir Duke.