The bust of U Tirot Sing at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Dhaka was destroyed after the entire building was burnt by the Bangladeshi mob on August 5.
The museum was dedicated to Hasina’s father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who was assassinated while serving as president in 1975.
The museum also housed a bust of U Tirot Sing, a freedom fighter from Khasi Hills who rebelled against the British some 200 years ago.
The bust, unveiled just six months ago on February 16, was funded by the Indian government and designed by renowned artist of the state Raphael Warjri.
The Centre, formally inaugurated in March 2010, promotes bilateral cultural linkages between India and Bangladesh by organising cultural programmes, cultural seminars, workshops and engaging India based Gurus professionals and trainers for Yoga, Hindi, Indian classical Vocal Music and Indian Dances.
It also engages high class professionals from Bangladesh who had their training from Indian Gurus or in Indian Universities.
The Centre, a Cultural Centre of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations of India, has a library with over 21,000 books in the fields of Indian art, culture, politics, economics and fiction.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has condemned the destruction of the bust. “I strongly condemn the vandalisation of the bust of U Tirot Sing Syiem, the braveheart of Khasi Hills and freedom fighter of Meghalaya at the Indian Cultural Centre in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Urge local authorities to take creative measures to avoid further escalation,” he wrote on X.
The State BJP said the wanton act of vandalism insults the memory of a hero and hurt the sentiments of all communities of the state and the nation.
“The images coming out of Bangladesh should shock any civilized person, anywhere in the world. The vandalism of U Tirot Sing’s memorial, as well as the attack on minorities and their places of worship in Bangladesh is unacceptable and has left all of us in utter dismay. We pray that right sense prevails and peace returns immediately,” BJP Chief Spokesperson, Mariahom Kharkrang said.
The party has appealed to the central government to take up the matter with whoever is in charge of the neighbouring country at this moment, to ensure protection of such memorials and bring an end to the violence that is being unleashed on minorities in Bangladesh.
