A Dhaka court on Monday directed the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to conduct investigation into the two cases filed against Hefajat-e-Islam Ameer Junayed Babunagari and two others for their derogatory remarks on sculpture of Bangabandhu.

The court of Metropolitan Magistrate Sotyabrata Sikder also asked PBI to submit the investigation report before it within January 7 next year.

Muktijoddha Mancha President Aminul Islam Bulbul filed a case against Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh chief Junaid Babunagari, Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque and Nayeb-e-Ameer of Islami Andolan Bangladesh Faizul Karim with the Court of Metropolitan Magistrate Sotyabrata Sikder on Monday morning.

Besides, Advocate Moshiur Malek, founder of Bangabandhu Foundation, filed another case against Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque with the same court over the same allegation.

The magistrate recorded the statement of the plaintiffs and said he will pass an order on the issue later in the day.

The plaintiffs said all the statements made by Babunagari, Mamunul and Faizul Karim are tantamount to sedition and go against the state.

They also appealed to the court to issue arrest warrant against the trio for their alleged involvement with "tarnishing the image of the government and creating anarchy" across the country.

Recently, Hefazat leaders threatened to throw out Bangabandhu’s sculpture into the Buriganga River. Later several other Islamist leaders, including Faizul, supported Hefazat leaders' position against all sculpture, including of Bangabandhu, across the country.

The anti-sculpture rhetoric led to a massive uproar across the country after CCTV footage showed the face and hands of Bangabandhu's sculpture were vandalized by two madrasa students around 2:00 am on Saturday. 

BDST: 1515 HRS, DEC 07, 2020
AP/SMS