Abbas Ali, the mayor of Katakhali Municipality in Rajshahi and the convener of the municipal Awami League, has come under fire on social media for saying, "Murals of Bangabandhu cannot be done, doing a mural would be a sin." A section of the local Awami League has launched a movement demanding his removal based on an audio tape that went viral on social media. Demands for punishment have been circulating on social media throughout the day.
They allege that Abbas Ali was heard speaking 'opposing' the installation of Bangabandhu's mural at the Rajshahi City Gate in the audio tape. In response to this, a human chain program has been announced tomorrow, Wednesday at 10 am at Saheb Bazar Zero Point under the banner of five organizations including the District and Metropolitan Freedom Fighters Command, and a protest rally at Katakhali Bazar at 10:30 am under the banner of the local Awami League.
Joint convener of the Municipality Awami League, Zahurul Alam Ripon, said that the program for this protest rally has been given by the Awami League and its affiliates and associate organizations. "We demand that Mayor Abbas Ali be permanently expelled from the Awami League immediately. In addition, legal action should be taken against him and he should also be removed from the post of mayor."
In the audio tape that has been circulating on social media, a man can be heard saying that the design for the mural of Bangabandhu at the city gate is 'not correct according to Islamic Sharia'. He will 'sin' if he allows it to be done.
When asked about the one-minute, 51-second audio tape, two-time mayor of Katakhali Municipality Abbas Ali said, "I have never said such things in front of anyone that murals cannot be done, that doing murals would be a sin. If you listen carefully, you will understand that the audio has been edited."
When asked about this, Rajshahi District Awami League Acting President Anil Kumar Sarkar said, "If someone insults the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, he has no right to be part of the Awami League. If the mayor of Katakhali has insulted Bangabandhu, party and legal action will be taken against him."
And the commander of the Metropolitan Freedom Fighters' Association, Dr. Abdul Mannan, said, "The statement made by Mayor Abbas Ali regarding the construction of Bangabandhu's mural cannot be accepted. It is tantamount to treason. He has lost his party membership and the qualification to hold the post of mayor."
Desk Report/ Ekattarjournal24.com
