Sheikh Mujib's sculpture, Sahan Ara Park demolished in Barishal

An agitated has demolished the sculpture of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in front of the Barishal Press Club and the Bir Muktijoddha Sahan Ara Park near Choumatha Lake.

The crowd demolition started at around 2:30pm today (6 February), with some of them chanting anti-Awami League slogans against the Awami League.

"This is the sculpture of the killer Hasina's father in front of the press club, which the Awami fascists used to consider their father. In a Muslim country, such sculptures or unethical projects—like this one built with 400 crore taka stolen from people's pockets—are unacceptable,"  said Hafez Masum Billah, one of the demolishers.

"We don't want future generations to be influenced by this sculpture. In a free country, there should be no sculptures or artificial monuments," he added. 

He also said the Liberation War was not fought through sculptures.

"The Awami League was a dictatorship, and we want to erase all their houses, sculptures, and symbols, sending them back to their masters in India or Delhi. We don't want any trace of Awami League in this country," he added.

Another participant said, "We don't want Mujibism in Bangladesh. That's finished. Nothing more to say."

While a large crowd gathered the night before (5 February) during the attack on the residences of former Barishal City Corporation mayor Sadiq Abdullah and former MP Amir Hossain Amu, only around 7–8 people were actively involved in vandalising the sculpture at the press club, reports our correspondent.

Simultaneously, the Bir Muktijoddha Sahan Ara Park in the Choumatha area on C&B Road was bulldozed by a small group of protesters. The demolition of the park began at approximately 3pm.

Tariqul Islam, a local, said, "Sadiq Abdullah illegally occupied land belonging to the Roads and Highways Department to establish this park in his mother's name. The local people had long opposed this park. Today, the students and the public are clearing it out. We want to wipe out the Awami League completely so that it can never rise again in Bangladesh."

Meanwhile, the central general secretary of Chhatra Dal (the student wing of BNP) has issued a statement denying any involvement of their organisation in the vandalism or demolitions. 

Local leaders have also reiterated that Chhatra Dal has had no connection with any incidents since last night. 

They stated that they would openly discuss the matter if directives came from the central leadership, though none were willing to disclose their identities regarding this issue.