Filmmaker and former cultural affairs adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has called for an investigation into the motives behind several recent incidents, urging authorities to focus on rebuilding Bangladesh’s political, economic, social and cultural sectors.
Farooki shared his views in a Facebook post on Tuesday, 13 October, warning that public attention could be diverted from more significant developments while other groups pursue their own agendas.
“Keep an eye out for anyone pulling strings from the shadows while keeping us busy with trivial chatter,” he wrote.
Referring to several recent arrests, including that of a former army officer, both near the border and elsewhere in the country, Farooki said the incidents warranted closer examination.
He also questioned the circumstances surrounding the defacement of images of two figures displayed alongside Rabindranath Tagore on the walls of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
The work was reportedly carried out through Dhaka South City Corporation.
While Tagore is widely celebrated at the state level in Bangladesh, Farooki said the presence of the two other figures alongside him raised questions about who initiated the arrangement and whether it served a particular purpose.
He called on government intelligence agencies to investigate the matter and determine whether any broader interests were involved.
Farooki also referred to the public attention surrounding an incident in which ink was thrown at the mural, questioning whether the focus on the episode was overshadowing other important developments.
“The time has come for government agencies to understand who is making what move and where,” he wrote, arguing that certain actions could be intended to divert public attention towards secondary issues.
The former adviser concluded by stressing the need to prioritise Bangladesh’s reconstruction, calling for sustained discussion and action across political, economic, social and cultural spheres.
His remarks come amid public debate over recent incidents and the handling of cultural symbols in public spaces.
