Statue Marking Pakistan Army’s 1971 Surrender Damaged in Bangladesh
New Delhi: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has condemned the destruction of a statue at the 1971 Shaheed Memorial Complex in Mujibnagar, Bangladesh, which was intended to commemorate the country’s liberation. Tharoor shared an image of the damaged statue on X (formerly Twitter), depicting the moment of Pakistan’s surrender after the 1971 war.
He expressed sorrow over the vandalism, attributing it to “anti-India vandals” and linking it to recent attacks on Indian cultural centers, temples, and Hindu homes. Tharoor noted that, despite these incidents, there have been reports of Muslim civilians protecting minority communities and their places of worship.
The statue in question symbolized the signing of the ‘Instrument of Surrender’ by Pakistan Army Major-General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi to the Indian Army and Bangladesh’s Mukti Bahini. Niazi’s surrender, along with his 93,000 troops, was the largest military capitulation since World War II.
Bangladesh Statue of 1971 Surrender Vandalized Amidst Controversy
In Bangladesh, a student-led uprising has resulted in the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and several other high-ranking officials. Over a month of intense protests, which ended on August 5, claimed the lives of at least 450 people.
Sheikh Hasina is now facing serious allegations including murder, forced disappearances, money laundering, and corruption, according to Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, a senior figure in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
The unrest has also severely impacted the Hindu community, with numerous attacks on Hindu households, temples, and businesses. Hindus, who are the largest minority group in predominantly Muslim Bangladesh and traditionally support Hasina’s Awami League party, have been particularly targeted. Since the government’s fall, there have been over 205 reported incidents of violence against minority communities across 52 districts.
Shashi Tharoor has called on the new caretaker government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, to take swift action to restore law and order in Bangladesh.
He commented, “The motives of some of the protesters are quite apparent. It is crucial for Muhammad Yunus and his interim administration to promptly address the situation and restore stability for all Bangladeshis, regardless of their faith. While India supports the people of Bangladesh during this challenging period, we cannot condone such disorderly conduct.”
Follow us on our social media platforms here: Twitter WHATSAPP CHANNEL FACEBOOK PAGE
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.