A statue that commemorated the liberation of Bangladesh has been destroyed by ‘anti-India vandals’, said Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. The Indian lawmaker shared an image of the damaged statue which marked the moment when Pakistan surrendered following the war in 1971.
Tharoor said: “This follows disgraceful attacks on the Indian cultural centre, temples and Hindu homes in several places, even as reports came in of Muslim civilians protecting other minority homes and places of worship.” He urged interim government chief Muhammad Yunus to ensure restoration of law and order in the country.
“The agenda of some of the agitators is quite clear. It is essential that @Yunus_Centre and his interim government take urgent steps to restore law & order in the interests of all Bangladeshis, of every faith. India stands with the people of Bangladesh at this turbulent time, but such anarchic excess can never be condoned,” he said.
Pakistan suffered a crushing defeat in the 1971 war which also created Bangladesh.
The vandalised statue depicted the moment of signing of the ‘Instrument Of Surrender’ by Pakistan Army Major-General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi to the Indian Army and Bangladesh’s Mukti Bahini.
Major-General Niazi had surrendered with his 93,000 troops following the war. This event marked the largest military surrender since World War II.
Bangladesh crisis
Bangladesh has reported arson, killings, and multiple incidents of persecution of minority communities across 52 districts since Sheikh Hasina’s resignation as the Prime Minister on August 5. Two protesters also suffered injuries. Hasina fled the country the same day amid fears of being mobbed after protests intensified following the death of over 400 agitators in clashes with the cops.
Her residence was stormed by the protesters hours after she left the complex in a military helicopter. She landed at an airbase in India’s Uttar Pradesh, hours later.
Incidents of violence, too, continue to be reported from across Bangladesh. Five army personnel were injured and a military vehicle was torched during a clash at an Awami League procession in Gopalganj last afternoon.
Bangladesh is still looking at uncertainty even as a caretaker government has been sworn in under the leadership of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus amid reports of persecution of minority communities that continue to pour in.
