A seven-member investigation committee has been formed following the arson attack on the ancestral home of sculptor Manobendra Ghosh, who designed a motif for the Pahela Baishakh festive procession.
The Chief Adviser’s Office stated that the government took the matter seriously.
In the early hours of Tuesday, around 3:00 AM, miscreants set fire to a room in Manobendra Ghosh’s village home, located in Ghosher Bazar under Garpara Union of Manikganj Sadar upazila.
Speaking to reporters, Manobendra said, “Miscreants have set fire to my house. Now my family and I are living in fear for our lives. The fire completely destroyed one of the rooms. I urgently call for government intervention.”
Regarding the general diary (GD) he filed, he added, “Just two days before Pahela Baishakh, false information was spread about me on Facebook, accusing me of creating a sculpture of the autocrat Sheikh Hasina’s face. On Pahela Baishakh, I only crafted a tiger motif. After this false narrative gained attention, I filed a GD with Sadar Police Station on Tuesday seeking security for myself and my family. That very night, a room in my house was set on fire.”
Immediately after receiving news of the fire, Manikganj Deputy Commissioner Dr. Manowar Hossain Molla, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mohammad Salauddin, members of the CID Crime Scene Unit, and other law enforcement officials visited the site.
Deputy Commissioner Manowar Hossain Molla stated that a skilled team from the police and CID is investigating the incident. “We are hopeful that the cause of the fire will be determined soon through proper investigation. Once the reason is known, legal action will be taken accordingly,” he said.
He added along with identifying the root cause behind the arson, the burnt portion of the house will be rebuilt under the initiative of the Manikganj district administration.
Regarding the case, Officer-in-Charge of Sadar Police Station, Aman Ullah, said that police have begun efforts to identify those involved, and legal proceedings are currently underway.
The Manikganj district administration has formed a seven-member committee, headed by Additional District Magistrate Md. Nazmul Hasan Khan. The committee is scheduled to submit its report within the next three working days.
The Chief Adviser’s Press Wing, in a press release, confirmed that law enforcement agencies are taking the matter seriously and are thoroughly investigating the incident.
Superintendent of Police Yasmin Khatun said that the police have already visited the site and that the investigation is ongoing. “If anyone is found to be involved, swift action will be taken,” she assured.