'Criminal offence': Attack on Chhayanaut goes against spirit of July Uprising, says Farooki

Condemning the attack, he says the perpetrators will be swiftly arrested and brought to justice

Cultural Affairs Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has denounced the attack on the Chhayanaut cultural complex in Dhaka as a “criminal offence” and said it goes against the spirit of the July Uprising.

In a statement issued on Friday, Farooki said the vandalism and arson at the institution in Dhanmondi, which took place amid protests following the death of Inqilab Moncho Convenor Sharif Osman Hadi, were unacceptable and unlawful.

He added that the government was working to ensure that those responsible were swiftly arrested and brought to justice.

Hadi, who had announced plans to run as an independent candidate from Dhaka-8 in the upcoming election, died in a hospital in Singapore after being shot while campaigning in the capital's Bijoynagar area on Dec 12. News of his death triggered protests across the capital on Thursday night.

Demonstrations initially centred on Shahbagh, before groups went on to vandalise and set fire to the offices of national dailies Prothom Alo and The Daily Star in Karwan Bazar.

Later in the night, between 1:30am and 2:30am, a group of protesters attacked the seven-storey Chhayanaut building in Dhanmondi. They reportedly moved from floor to floor, smashing classrooms, offices and auditoriums.

Musical instruments were destroyed, books burnt and surveillance equipment damaged. Furniture was overturned and documents scattered.

In his statement, Farooki said the nation was mourning the "martyrdom" of Hadi, calling him a symbol of Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty.

“At such a time of national grief, a group of reckless individuals attacked the cultural organisation Chhayanaut in an attempt to destabilise the country. An attack on a cultural organisation in the wake of the death of the indomitable Hadi is not only a criminal offence, but also contrary to the spirit of the July mass uprising.”

The advisor urged people to remain united against violence during a "period of democratic transition".

He said the Ministry of Cultural Affairs would assess the damage to the Chhayanaut building and work with the organisation’s authorities to take the necessary steps.