Torchlight procession brought out in Ctg, Sheikh Mujib's murals vandalised

Activists of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement staged a torchlight procession in Chattogram last night (5 February), protesting the broadcast of a speech by ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Later, they vandalised murals of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Chattogram Medical College (CMC) and Jamal Khan area of the city.

The protest, which reportedly centered on denouncing alleged provocative remarks made by Sheikh Hasina from abroad, escalated when demonstrators reached CMC around 10pm.

Eyewitnesses claimed that a group of 20-25 individuals, some wielding hammers and stones, vandalised a mural situated in front of the institution's old academic building.

Local street vendors said the mural, depicting the image of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was severely damaged by the group.

Efforts to contact CMC Principal Md Jasim Uddin for a statement remained unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls.

Following the incident at the medical college, the torch-bearing activists moved to Jamal Khan area of the city, where they reportedly damaged another mural of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with hammers.

Speaking to journalists during the protest, the activists alleged that Sheikh Hasina was making provocative statements from abroad with the intention of destabilising the country.

The activists declared that their actions were a demonstration against what they described as conspiracies by the Awami League aimed at creating unrest in February.

"We stand ready to stop any attempts to destabilise Bangladesh and will not allow such conspiracies to succeed," one protester said.