Statue Commemorating Pakistan Army's 1971 Surrender Vandalized In Bangladesh

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor expressed his dismay today over the destruction of a statue meant to commemorate the liberation of Bangladesh. The statue, located at the 1971 Shaheed Memorial Complex in Mujibnagar, depicted the historic moment when Pakistan surrendered after the 1971 war. Tharoor shared an image of the damaged statue, attributing the act to “anti-India vandals.”

Sad to see images like this of statues at the 1971 Shaheed Memorial Complex, Mujibnagar, destroyed by anti-India vandals. This follows disgraceful attacks on the Indian cultural centre, temples and Hindu homes in several places, even as reports came in of Muslim civilians… pic.twitter.com/FFrftoA81T

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 12, 2024

Attacks on Cultural Sites and Minority Communities

Tharoor, the Thiruvananthapuram MP, also highlighted a series of recent attacks targeting Indian cultural centers, temples, and Hindu homes. He pointed out that while some Muslim civilians have stepped up to protect minority homes and places of worship, the situation remains dire.

Significance of the War

The statue symbolized a pivotal event in South Asian history—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 93,000 Pakistani troops, marked the largest military capitulation since World War II, leading to the creation of an independent Bangladesh.

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Political Turmoil in Bangladesh

The incident comes amid widespread unrest in Bangladesh, following the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and several top officials on August 5. A student-led uprising, which has claimed at least 450 lives over more than a month of protests, forced Hasina’s departure. She now faces serious charges including murder, forced disappearances, money laundering, and corruption, according to Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

Violence Against Minority Communities

In the wake of Hasina’s resignation, Bangladesh’s Hindu community, the country’s largest minority, has been particularly vulnerable. Reports indicate over 205 attacks against Hindu households, temples, and businesses across 52 districts. Hindus have historically been a strong support base for Hasina’s Awami League.

Call for Restoration of Law and Order

Tharoor urged the newly established caretaker government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, to take immediate action to restore law and order in the violence-hit nation.

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