Eleven eminent citizens told that Superintendent of Police (SP) in Kushtia SM Tanvir Arafath spoke on behalf of Bangladesh. In a statement issued by them said what SP Tanvir said was to protest against the vandalism of sculptures of Bangabandhu and revolutionary Bagha Jatin

The signatories to the statement are: Sarwar Ali, Ramendu Majumder, Abdus Selim, Mamunur Rashid, Mofidul Haque, Shahriar Kabir, Muntasir Mamun, Nasiruddin Yusuf, Golam Quddush, Hasan Arif and Ahkamullah.

“We think the police officer spoke in favor of Bangladesh in the spirit of war of liberation,” the statement said. His statement on the issue of sculpture has once again clarified the basic aspirations of Bangladesh achieved by fighting on the basis of Bangabandhu’s ideology.

Speaking at a rally in Kushtia’s Kumarkhali on December 24 to protest the vandalism of the sculpture, the SP warned the fundamentalists saying that “If you do not abide by the constitution and laws of Bangladesh, you have three options. One option/ do the as wish, surely break your hands and send to jail. The second option is to remain completely silent. You cannot ask any question about the history of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu and independence; live in silence. And number three is if you don’t like Bangladesh, then you are welcome to go your dream land Pakistan.”

Regarding Hifazat’s statement seeking removal of the police superintendent due to this statement, the 11 citizens said, “Hifazat-e-Islam’s statement against the SP has clarified their anti-consciousness stance of 1971.”

Recalling the glorious role of the police in the war of liberation, they said, “Everyone knows that on the night of March 25, 1971, the Bangladesh Police formed the first resistance against the Pakistani occupation forces.”

‘We know very well this group contradicts the SP’s statement. These are the defeated evil forces of 1971. Generation of barbaric Pakis. They come to the forefront in different identities in different times; sometimes as Jamaat Shibir; sometimes Hefajat. They still do not believe in the independence of Bangladesh. For this reason, they have shown the courage to break the sculpture of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. After that they cannot be given any spare. That is why we think that the SP has given a final warning to these extremists,” they said in the statement.

In this situation, they demanded the arrest of those who opposed and threatened the SP’s statement and called upon all those who believe in the spirit of the liberation war to form a united resistance.