The vandalism of Shaheed Minar in Cumilla on the night of February 21 has sparked nationwide outrage and protests on social media, including Facebook. The upazila administration and college authorities have formed two separate investigation committees in this regard.
The incident took place at the Gunabati Degree College campus in Gunabati Union of Chauddagram Upazila of the district. On receiving the news, police, army and upazila administration officials visited the scene on Friday. Chauddagram Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Jamal Hossain arrived at the scene at noon. During this time, he spoke to the college authorities and locals.
In the afternoon, the UNO said that the demolition of Shaheed Minar is a very sensitive issue. We are looking into the matter with utmost importance. A 3-member committee headed by Upazila Agriculture Officer Jobayer Ahmed has been formed to investigate the incident. The other two members of the committee are Upazila Engineer Md. Nuruzzaman and Upazila Secondary Education Officer AKM Mir Hossain. The committee has been asked to submit a report within the next 3 working days.
On the other hand, another separate investigation committee has been formed by the college. The general secretary of the college's teachers' council and assistant professor Sarwar Osman have been made the head of the committee and two other college teachers have been made members of the committee. The committee has been asked to submit a report within the next 7 days.
Earlier, in the early hours of February 21, college teachers, students and local BNP leaders and activists paid tribute to the martyrs at the Shaheed Minar on the college premises. Everyone left the campus at around 1:45 am. Later, miscreants vandalized the Shaheed Minar late at night.
Acting principal of the college Md. Abdul Latif said that the Shaheed Minar of the college was established in 1968. It was quite risky. However, it was not supposed to fall down like this if no one had broken it. Quoting the college's night watchman Shamsul Alam, the principal also said that the night watchman went to the Shaheed Minar premises after hearing a loud noise at around 2 am. When he went there, he saw that two of the three pillars of the Shaheed Minar had been broken and crushed.
Hilal Uddin, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chauddagram Police Station, said that the college has filed a general diary (DG) with the police station regarding the incident. As there is no CCTV camera on the college campus, it is not possible to provide any information about those involved in the incident right now. However, it is believed that only local people may be involved in the incident. Those involved will be identified and brought to justice.
Shah Mohammad Alamgir, President of Sushaner Jonnya Nagraik (Sujon) Cumilla, said that such outrage towards the Shaheed Minar on Shaheed Dibash is unacceptable, and I hope that the law enforcement agencies will quickly identify those involved and provide the maximum punishment. If the criminals are spared, such incidents will continue to happen.