Staff Reporter :
The controversial statue of Greek lady justice has finally been removed from the Supreme Court premises early Friday, which trigged protests from some student bodies and mixed reactions from different circles.
Police said protesting students looked in clashes with them which prompted them to take action to disperse them, leaving several students hurt.
However, the radical Islamists outfit Hefajat-E-Islam, hailed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for meeting their demand for the statue’s removal.
The statue was erected in December 2016, holding the familiar sword and scales of justice in her hands, amounts to idolatry.
But the statue erected in December last year provoked the anger of hardliners who demanded removal of the statue showing its spiritual conflict with Islam.
They also claimed that the statue was in full view of Muslims pray at the National Eidgah.
On April 9, 2017, a writ was filed with the High Court, seeking removal of the statue from the Supreme Court premises.
Later, on Apr 11, Hifazat Chief Shah
 Ahmed Shafi led Qawmi madrasa representatives at a Ganabhaban meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recreated its demand for removal of the statue.
The PM said she, too, dislikes the statue. Defending her view, she also said, “The sari-clad statue is half-Greek and half-Bengali.”
Chief Justice SK Sinha ordered the relocation of the Lady Justice statue from the Supreme Court premises after seeking opinions from lawyers.
Before ordering ‘relocation’ of the statue, Justice Sinha sat with senior lawyers where he got positive response over the removal, said Attorney General Mahbubey Alam.
Sculptor Mrinal Haque was present at the spot during the removal work.
However, there are mixed reactions over the issue.
Ruling and opposition party leaders have expressed opinions over the issue.
Obaidul Quader, Awami League General Secretary on Friday said that the removal of the statue of Greek goddess from the Supreme Court premises is the decision of the Supreme Court.
Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister said, “The statue has been removed as per the decision of the apex court. The matter is not under the government’s jurisdiction.”
BNP senior leader Moudud Ahmed on Friday said, “The Chief justice in consultation with senior lawyers decided to relocate the statue from the Supreme Court premises. So, I want to let you know it’s the Chief Justice who removed the statue on his own, not at the government order.”
Appreciating Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for removing the statue of the Greek goddess from the Court premises, Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) on Friday said the decision was a time-befitting and nice one.
 “We want to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for removing the idol by taking a brave step against the communal power. This decision reflects the spirit of the Liberation War, equality, human dignity and justice,” said a press release issued by Mufti Foyzullah, the IOJ’s Secretary General.
Meanwhile, enraged by the decision, leftist student bodies began demonstrating outside the court premise.
At noon, police put up barricades near Bangladesh Shishu Academy to stop a procession by ‘progressive students’ who were marching towards the Supreme Court from the Raju Memorial at Dhaka University.
Police used teargas shells, water cannons and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters as they tried to break through the barricades, said Samajtantrik Chhatra Front’s General Secretary Snehadri Chakroborty Rintu.
Bangladesh Chatra Union General Secretary Liton Nondi was among five who were detained by the police. At least 20 were injured in the police attack, according to the protesters.
Sanjoy Kanti Das, Shamima Ara Mina, and Mukta Bhattacharya from Samajtantrik Chhatra Front suffered injuries, said Rintu.
Being prevented by the law enforcers, the students finally took back their procession to DU campus chanting slogans against government’s “surrender to fundamentalists.”
The controversial statue of Greek lady justice has finally been removed from the Supreme Court premises early Friday, which trigged protests from some student bodies and mixed reactions from different circles.
Police said protesting students looked in clashes with them which prompted them to take action to disperse them, leaving several students hurt.
However, the radical Islamists outfit Hefajat-E-Islam, hailed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for meeting their demand for the statue’s removal.
The statue was erected in December 2016, holding the familiar sword and scales of justice in her hands, amounts to idolatry.
But the statue erected in December last year provoked the anger of hardliners who demanded removal of the statue showing its spiritual conflict with Islam.
They also claimed that the statue was in full view of Muslims pray at the National Eidgah.
On April 9, 2017, a writ was filed with the High Court, seeking removal of the statue from the Supreme Court premises.
Later, on Apr 11, Hifazat Chief Shah
 Ahmed Shafi led Qawmi madrasa representatives at a Ganabhaban meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recreated its demand for removal of the statue.
The PM said she, too, dislikes the statue. Defending her view, she also said, “The sari-clad statue is half-Greek and half-Bengali.”
Chief Justice SK Sinha ordered the relocation of the Lady Justice statue from the Supreme Court premises after seeking opinions from lawyers.
Before ordering ‘relocation’ of the statue, Justice Sinha sat with senior lawyers where he got positive response over the removal, said Attorney General Mahbubey Alam.
Sculptor Mrinal Haque was present at the spot during the removal work.
However, there are mixed reactions over the issue.
Ruling and opposition party leaders have expressed opinions over the issue.
Obaidul Quader, Awami League General Secretary on Friday said that the removal of the statue of Greek goddess from the Supreme Court premises is the decision of the Supreme Court.
Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister said, “The statue has been removed as per the decision of the apex court. The matter is not under the government’s jurisdiction.”
BNP senior leader Moudud Ahmed on Friday said, “The Chief justice in consultation with senior lawyers decided to relocate the statue from the Supreme Court premises. So, I want to let you know it’s the Chief Justice who removed the statue on his own, not at the government order.”
Appreciating Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for removing the statue of the Greek goddess from the Court premises, Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) on Friday said the decision was a time-befitting and nice one.
 “We want to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for removing the idol by taking a brave step against the communal power. This decision reflects the spirit of the Liberation War, equality, human dignity and justice,” said a press release issued by Mufti Foyzullah, the IOJ’s Secretary General.
Meanwhile, enraged by the decision, leftist student bodies began demonstrating outside the court premise.
At noon, police put up barricades near Bangladesh Shishu Academy to stop a procession by ‘progressive students’ who were marching towards the Supreme Court from the Raju Memorial at Dhaka University.
Police used teargas shells, water cannons and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters as they tried to break through the barricades, said Samajtantrik Chhatra Front’s General Secretary Snehadri Chakroborty Rintu.
Bangladesh Chatra Union General Secretary Liton Nondi was among five who were detained by the police. At least 20 were injured in the police attack, according to the protesters.
Sanjoy Kanti Das, Shamima Ara Mina, and Mukta Bhattacharya from Samajtantrik Chhatra Front suffered injuries, said Rintu.
Being prevented by the law enforcers, the students finally took back their procession to DU campus chanting slogans against government’s “surrender to fundamentalists.”
