One of the most visible signs of this growing radicalization is the vandalism of secular symbols, such as the destruction of sculptures and cultural institutions that once symbolized Bangladesh’s commitment to its secular heritage.
Foreign Minister Vikram Misri raised this issue of attacks on cultural centers and properties during talks in Dhaka on Monday. The Indian Cultural Center in Dhaka was burnt down within a day of Sheikh Hasina’s removal, and the perpetrator remains at large.
According to a Dhaka-based source who requested anonymity, around 1,500 sculptures, reliefs, murals and monuments were vandalized, set on fire and uprooted between August 5 and 14, 2024, in Dhaka and other major cities. It is said that serious damage was caused in the city. .
Notable among the destroyed works were several statues of Bangladesh’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other important cultural symbols. The affected areas include 273 cases in Dhaka division, 204 cases in Chittagong division, 166 cases in Rajshahi division, 479 cases in Khulna division, 100 cases in Barisal city, 129 cases in Rampur city, 49 cases in Sylhet division, and Mymensingh division of Bangladesh. This includes 92 construction projects.
The education system is also under pressure from radical forces seeking to influence the curriculum and impose more religiously conservative ideas. One sign of this is efforts to change the national anthem, which has a symbolic meaning that reflects the country’s secular and democratic values. The influence of Islamic radicalism is growing, one of the sources cited above claims. Longtime Bangladesh observers say these actions signal a shift toward a more theocratic vision of the country, driven by radical groups seeking to redefine national identity.
