Artist Manbendra Ghosh, who was responsible for crafting the motifs and sculptures for this year’s Pahela Baishakh “Ananda Shobhajatra” (Procession of Joy), recently faced a terrifying arson attack on his residence. This followed a similar fire at the Faculty of Fine Arts (Charukola Institute). To the aware and conscious, there is no ambiguity about the motives or the actors behind these attacks—it is a calculated assault by fundamentalist forces.
Since August 5, 2024, Bangladesh has entered a dark chapter in its history. An unlawful and unconstitutional regime—dubbed the “Yunus government”—has seized power. Under its patronage, extremism, religious fundamentalism, and pro-Pakistani ideologies have resurged. These forces oppose the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War, promote hatred and division in the name of religion, and view cultural expression as their enemy.
Pahela Baishakh is a cornerstone of Bengali heritage, celebrated for centuries. The Mangal Shobhajatra, the central event of the celebration, is recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Even this iconic cultural procession did not escape the wrath of fundamentalists. This year, they renamed it “Ananda Shobhajatra,” branding the word Mangal (meaning auspicious) as anti-Islamic and “Hindu-centric”—a clear attempt to erase cultural symbolism. Yet, hypocritically, they participated in the very same event, presenting their own version with sculptures under a “halal” guise—exposing their double standards and political opportunism.
Some members of these extremist groups, including YouTubers, openly threatened to “punish” those involved in sculpture-making. The fire at the Charukola Institute, followed by the arson attack on Manbendra Ghosh’s home, appears to be the execution of those threats. These are not isolated incidents—they are part of a coordinated campaign to destroy art, culture, progress, and Bengali identity.
Adding insult to injury, these groups have tried to exploit these terror attacks for political gain. They are spreading conspiracy theories on social media, absurdly claiming that these events are staged by the Awami League. Such statements are not only laughable but dangerously misleading. The public can now clearly distinguish who stands for culture, heritage, and progress, and who stands for destruction, division, and communalism.
Now is the time to stand up. Our culture, art, and collective spirit are not the property of any one group—they are the essence of the Bengali soul. It is every conscious citizen’s duty to resist those who seek to destroy it.
We call upon everyone: stand against this tide of fundamentalism. Raise your voice for progress, for culture, and for humanity.
