Shoes hung on Bir Shrestha Hamidur Rahman sculpture in Jhenaidah, sparking outrage

Unknown people have hung a garland of shoes on a sculpture of Bir Shrestha Hamidur Rahman in Jhenaidah, drawing widespread anger from locals and prompting a police investigation.

Photos of the shoes draped over the under-construction sculpture at the central bus terminal area spread on social media on Tuesday morning.

The shoes were removed by midday, according to freedom fighter Kamaluzzaman, a leader of the district's Muktijoddha Sangsad.

He also noted that the sculpture had been vandalised several months earlier.

Jhenaidah Sadar Police chief Md Asaduzzaman said police learned of the incident through Facebook and have launched an investigation.

A meeting was held at the office of District Commissioner Md Noman Hossain in the evening, after which he said police had been instructed to investigate and take legal action.

Bir Shrestha Hamidur Rahman, born in Jhenaidah, was posthumously awarded Bangladesh's highest military honour for his sacrifice in the 1971 Liberation War.

He was killed on Oct 28, 1971, in combat against Pakistani forces in Kamalganj, Moulvibazar.