Special Correspondent :
The arrest of Borguna Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tarique Salman for using a sketch of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the Independence Day greeting cards has created widespread discontent among the government high-ups.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangabandhu’s eldest daughter, also expressed severe astonishment over the incident and said that the picture, painted by class-V student Adrita Kar, was not ‘distorted’.
“The UNO has done a good job arranging a competition over Bangabandhu’s sketch and printing the award-winning picture in
the cards,” PM’s adviser HT Imam told the media quoting Sheikh Hasina.
Earlier, the matter had drawn the attention of PM when the arrest news of UNO along with his handcuffed photos went viral on the social media network Facebook where several hundred users sharply criticized the government. Besides, some mainstream media also published news and columns condemning the government for the same.
Tariq Salman was released on bail on Wednesday afternoon two hours after he was sent to custody in a Tk 5 crore defamation case filed for distorting Bangabandhu’s portrait. The court fixed July 23 for the next hearing of the case.
Religious Affairs Secretary of Barisal District Awami League and president of Barisal Lawyers’ Association Obaidullah Saju filed the case against him for publishing cards using Adrita’s painting on the Independence Day last year at Agailjhara upazila.
The case was lodged with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s [CMM] Court in June. The UNO was transferred to Barguna Sadar from Agailjhara upazila after filling of the case.
Against the backdrop of social outcry in favour of the UNO, the PM now stands beside him saying that none was able to paint accurate portrait of Bangabandhu till the date. “Even the paintings of Bangabandhu used by us are also little inaccurate. I know…these are not fully perfect. By filing case, a praised matter has turned into a controversial issue,” she was quoted as saying after she saw the painting.
The accused UNO told the media that he arranged the art competition on March 17 on the day of Bangabandhu’s birth anniversary last year and the award-wining painting was used on March 26 marking the Independence Day.
Questions have also been raised how an UNO-level officer was arrested without prior approval of higher authority. Especially, the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of the district concerned have been blamed for such work.
Another big question has also risen how the judge took the case into cognizance. In this regard, HT Imam said that both the DC and SP were fully responsible for the arrest of the UNO and foe being handcuffed. He also hinted at taking action against the duo.
On Friday, the Bangladesh Administrative Service Association protested the case filed against the UNO terming it “motivated” and “humiliating”. The association also demanded withdrawal of the case.
The AL high-ups also claimed that Obaidullah Saju was a new comer and joined the Awami League only five years ago. But local sources said that he along with his family was an Awami Leaguer since long.
Meanwhile, the Awami League central body suspended Obaidullah Saju from the party on Friday for filing a case and harassing the UNO. “He was suspended for filing case against the UNO,” AL Joint General Secretray Mahabubul Alam Hanif said last night.
The arrest of Borguna Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tarique Salman for using a sketch of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the Independence Day greeting cards has created widespread discontent among the government high-ups.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangabandhu’s eldest daughter, also expressed severe astonishment over the incident and said that the picture, painted by class-V student Adrita Kar, was not ‘distorted’.
“The UNO has done a good job arranging a competition over Bangabandhu’s sketch and printing the award-winning picture in
the cards,” PM’s adviser HT Imam told the media quoting Sheikh Hasina.
Earlier, the matter had drawn the attention of PM when the arrest news of UNO along with his handcuffed photos went viral on the social media network Facebook where several hundred users sharply criticized the government. Besides, some mainstream media also published news and columns condemning the government for the same.
Tariq Salman was released on bail on Wednesday afternoon two hours after he was sent to custody in a Tk 5 crore defamation case filed for distorting Bangabandhu’s portrait. The court fixed July 23 for the next hearing of the case.
Religious Affairs Secretary of Barisal District Awami League and president of Barisal Lawyers’ Association Obaidullah Saju filed the case against him for publishing cards using Adrita’s painting on the Independence Day last year at Agailjhara upazila.
The case was lodged with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s [CMM] Court in June. The UNO was transferred to Barguna Sadar from Agailjhara upazila after filling of the case.
Against the backdrop of social outcry in favour of the UNO, the PM now stands beside him saying that none was able to paint accurate portrait of Bangabandhu till the date. “Even the paintings of Bangabandhu used by us are also little inaccurate. I know…these are not fully perfect. By filing case, a praised matter has turned into a controversial issue,” she was quoted as saying after she saw the painting.
The accused UNO told the media that he arranged the art competition on March 17 on the day of Bangabandhu’s birth anniversary last year and the award-wining painting was used on March 26 marking the Independence Day.
Questions have also been raised how an UNO-level officer was arrested without prior approval of higher authority. Especially, the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of the district concerned have been blamed for such work.
Another big question has also risen how the judge took the case into cognizance. In this regard, HT Imam said that both the DC and SP were fully responsible for the arrest of the UNO and foe being handcuffed. He also hinted at taking action against the duo.
On Friday, the Bangladesh Administrative Service Association protested the case filed against the UNO terming it “motivated” and “humiliating”. The association also demanded withdrawal of the case.
The AL high-ups also claimed that Obaidullah Saju was a new comer and joined the Awami League only five years ago. But local sources said that he along with his family was an Awami Leaguer since long.
Meanwhile, the Awami League central body suspended Obaidullah Saju from the party on Friday for filing a case and harassing the UNO. “He was suspended for filing case against the UNO,” AL Joint General Secretray Mahabubul Alam Hanif said last night.
