BFUJ, DUJ condemn demand to remove Bangabandhu’s sculpture

The Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) have strongly condemned the demand for removal of the sculpture of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by an anti-independence and fundamentalist group.

In a press release on Sunday, BFUJ President Molla Jalal, Secretary General Shaban Mahmud, and DUJ President Quddus Afrad and General Secretary Sajjad Alam Khan Topu said the demand for removal of Bangabandhu's sculpture is undoubtedly a deep conspiracy and tantamount to violation of the constitution.

In the statement, the leaders said a malicious attempt is underway to provoke religious schism in the country centering the construction of a sculpture of the Father of the Nation.

"This conspiratorial group is trying to sow confusion among the people by combining the issue of the sculpture with religious sentiment. So, we want to firmly clarify that sculptures and idols do not fall into the same category," read the statement.  

"According to the existing law of Bangladesh, any citizen of the country is obliged to show respect to the Father of the Nation and its exceptions is crime. Any controversy centring Bangabandhu is not desirable to the citizens of the country, it added.

In the statement, BFUJ and DUJ leaders said that if this conspiracy is not stopped, the journalist community will be forced to launch tougher programmes across the country.