2020 sculpture controversy in Bangladesh

The 2020 Bangladesh sculpture controversy refers to a series of ongoing political events focused on the religious opposition provided by the Islamist organization Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh against the creation of the sculpture of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, considered the founding father of Bangladesh and the central ideological figure of the then ruling Awami League. This controversy began in November 2020 at Dholaikhal, Dhaka, under the contemporary Awami League government. Hefazat-e-Islam viewed that making any sculpture or representative living thing in Islam is like making idols, which is haram according to Islamic jurisprudence. On the other hand, representatives of the then ruling party Awami League made the distinction that sculptures and idols used in worship are not the same. They accused Hefazat-e-Islam of deliberately misinterpreting Islamic jurisprudence under the instigation of opposition forces, with the intent of creating political difficulties for the incumbent Awami League government. The controversy unleashed a spiral of protests, counter-protests, and debates between the government and Islamist groups. Most Islamist groups opposed the government on the issue, while a few supported the stance of the government. The government has also filed sedition cases against the well-known leaders of the no-sculpture movement: Mamunul Haque, Syed Faizul Karim, and Junaid Babunagari, in the face of unrest.

Incidents

On December 4, Muslim devotees in front of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka's Paltan area raised slogans against sculptures and atheism, subsequently pelting stones and bricks at law enforcement personnel. The incident left several individuals injured, including a photojournalist. On December 5, an under-construction sculpture of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was vandalized at the Five Roads intersection in Kushtia town. On December 9, the High Court directed the concerned government authorities to take appropriate legal and punitive actions against those involved in damaging the sculptures of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.