Over 600 sculptures damaged in attack on Mujibnagar Memorial Complex

The historic Mujibnagar Complex, a symbol of Bangladesh's fight for independence, now stands in eerie silence after a devastating attack following the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government.

Once a bustling site filled with tourists, the Mujibnagar Amrakanan has become desolate.

On the afternoon of August 5 - the day of student-led mass upsurge that forced Prime Minister Hasina to resign and flee the country- several thousand people, armed with sticks, launched an attack on the complex, destroying over 600 sculptures, including a mural of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The attack left the site in ruins, with the sculptures commemorating the Liberation War shattered and desecrated. Ansar members, responsible for the security of the site, reportedly fled in fear, taking shelter in their barracks as the attack unfolded.

The attack was fueled by the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government. As tensions escalated, the mob targeted the complex, breaking sculptures that depicted key moments of Bangladesh's struggle for independence. The attack began with the smashing of Bangabandhu's iconic speech sculpture, delivered on March 7, 1971, at the Racecourse Maidan, with the attackers damaging the head and hand of the statue. The sculpture of the brutal massacre of unarmed Bengalis by Pakistani forces in 1971 was also vandalised.

The violence did not end there. Later that night, the attackers returned to inflict further damage, targeting smaller sculptures that represented the battles of the 11 sectors of the Liberation War. These sculptures were designed in the shape of Bangladesh's map, a poignant representation of the nation's fight for freedom. The attackers also dismantled the main gate of the Shaheed Memorial and slightly damaged the "Guard of Honor" sculpture and the sculpture depicting Pakistan's surrender on December 16, 1971.

Lance Corporal Azim Uddin and Ansar member Solaiman, who were on duty at the time, confirmed that 600 sculptures, the main tourist attraction, were destroyed. Subedar Rabiul Islam, Battalion Ansar Commander stationed at the Mujibnagar Memorial Complex, recounted how the attackers first vandalised the Bangabandhu sculptures and later returned for a second wave of destruction that lasted until midnight. Following the vandalism, the attackers raided the Ansar camp, breaking into the office and taking away the CCTV camera's hard disk from the control room.

During the attack, attempts to seek guidance from the Upazila Executive Officer were futile, leading the Ansar members to retreat to ensure their safety and protect their weapons. Since the incident, the Mujibnagar Memorial Complex has seen no visitors, and the Ansar members remain fearful, with only three members now deployed instead of four.

Local vendors, who once thrived on the steady flow of tourists, now find themselves in dire straits. Toy seller Abdul Quddus described how the attackers, numbering in the thousands, reduced the memorial to ruins, forcing everyone to flee in fear. Snack vendor Duk Chand Mandal lamented the loss of livelihood, noting that the 40 small businesses in the area are now waiting for life to return to the complex.

During a site visit on the following Monday afternoon, the absence of security personnel at the main gate was evident. Normally guarded by four Ansar members, the gate was left unattended, and the once vibrant memorial now lay in shambles. Sculptures that held significant historical importance were found vandalised, with Bangabandhu's head broken off, Tajuddin Ahmad's sculpture attacked, and the guard of honour sculptures damaged.

The "Joy Bangla" writing from the Joy Bangla arch behind the complex was also taken by the attackers.

The Mujibnagar Complex, where the Provisional Government of Bangladesh was formed on April 17, 1971, has been a symbol of the nation's fight for independence. In 1987, the Ershad government inaugurated the Mujibnagar Memorial to commemorate this historic event. The Awami League government later expanded the site in 1996, establishing the Liberation War Memorial Complex, which showcased various aspects of the Liberation War through murals and sculptures.

Officer-in-Charge of Mujibnagar Police Station, Mohammad Saiful Alam, acknowledged the incident, stating that police officers were overwhelmed during the attack, and that the incident is under investigation. Action will be taken following a thorough inquiry.