Kado Lalon, Kado
PROTEST: Wear a Gamcha in Protest Against Lalon Statue Destruction
October 16th, 2008: 118th death anniversary of Fakir Lalon Shah
October 15th, 2008: Government Officials pull down Lalon statue after protests by Bigots
Tiktiki wrote: “Compromises, compromises…..Since when Bauls became anti Islam?”
NEW AGE/Oct 16/Bigots against baul monument
Some Muslim bigots on Wednesday forced government authorities to pull down a monument of bauls on the roundabout at Zia International Airport in Dhaka after they had tried to raze and rallied against the sculpture. The Dhaka City Corporation six months ago decided to erect a monument at the place as part of the city beautification programme.
Sculptor Mrinal Haque about three months and a half ago started building the monument, sculptures of five bauls holding ektaras, single-stringed instruments, symbolising the exuberance of the Bengali culture. The initiative was sponsored by the United Commercial Bank. ‘I have completed 80 per cent of the work amid protests by some Muslim bigots in the name of religious sentiments being hurt,’ Mrinal told New Age. ‘Sensing trouble, the airport and the civil aviation authorities decided to pull down the monument and I agreed to the proposal.’ Several hundred bigots, teamed up as the committee against statue in the airport crossing, tried to stop the initiative just after Mirnal had started work. The bigots on Wednesday gathered near the neighbouring Babu Salam Mosque and brought out a procession demanding that the monument should be immediately dismantled. A large number of lawmen, including Rapid Action Battalion personnel, reached the place, but failed to tackle the situation. The situation deteriorated when several hundred people from different mosques reached the place and joined the protesters at about 3:00pm.
High police officials and the civil aviation authorities at a brief meeting decided to move the sculpture to ward off further trouble. The civil aviation authorities assigned the Fair Enterprise and the Probhati Enterprise to move the sculptures and the protesters joined the demolition job at about 5:00pm. The Airport police told New Age they were pulling down the monument at the directive of higher authorities.