Arson attack on Ananda Shobhajatra artist’s home

Thu Apr 17, 2025 12:47 AM

Four people were arrested over setting fire to the Manikganj house of artist Manabendra Ghosh, who made the tiger motif for the Borsho Boron Ananda Shobhajatra, yesterday.

SM Aman Ullah, officer-in-charge of Manikganj Sadar Police Station, said Manabendra filed a case against unidentified people. “We have already arrested four persons. Drive continues to arrest the others.”

The suspects are Al Amin Tomal, 22, finance secretary of banned Chhatra League of Manikganj Sadar upazila unit, and Mainuddin Ahmed Pias, 22, joint secretary of the unit, Babul Hossain, 54, general secretary of ward-3 unit of Awami League, and Meer Maruf, 21, said police.

Manabendra told The Daily Star, “The day before Pahela Baishakh, a [Facebook] page called ‘Rajya Sabha’ spread misleading information that I made the motif of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina used in the Shobhajatra.”

The artist, who was at home in the Garpara Bazar area of Manikganj Sadar upazila during the arson attack, said the room having the sculptures was set ablaze around 2:30am, destroying 30 sculptures. “On information, police and fire service members rushed there and brought the fire under control.”

“All the sculptures I had made since my training time and all the furniture in the room were damaged by then.”

Mohammad Salauddin, an additional superintendent of Manikganj police, said on April 13, a campaign was launched through Facebook page ‘Rajya Sabha’ that Manabendra fashioned the face of Hasina like a monster.

“Manabendra then lodged a GD with Manikganj Sadar Police Station. Since then, police have been keeping an eye on his safety. But around 2:30am today [Wednesday], someone set fire to the house. Getting information, we reached the spot and started legal proceedings.”

Earlier, quoting Manikganj Police Superintendent Yasmin Khatun, the chief adviser’s press wing shared information on Facebook that a police team already visited the spot, and an investigation was underway.

“Swift action will be taken against those responsible,” the SP said.

Manikganj Deputy Commissioner Manwar Hossain Molla said a six-member committee, led by Additional District Magistrate Nazmul Hasan Khan, was formed to investigate the fire and it has been asked to submit a report within three working days.

Meanwhile, Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki in his Facebook page wrote, “Police have started work to detain everyone who attacked the house of artist Manabendra Ghosh. We spoke to the home adviser who has given clear instructions to the IGP.”

He alleged that over the past few days, the Awami League has been inciting the attack on Manabendra online for “making an effigy of Hasina!”.