SHILLONG: In a tragic turn of events, the statue of U Tirot Sing Syiem, a revered Khasi freedom fighter, was destroyed by an unruly mob at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The incident has deeply hurt the sentiments of the people of Meghalaya.
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A video circulating online revealed the extensive damage to the IGCC building, showing the statue destroyed with only the pedestal and nameplate remaining.
The building was reportedly set ablaze by miscreants amidst large-scale violent protests that have gripped Bangladesh.
The protests, which began in June over a controversial reservation policy for the descendants of the veterans of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, escalated dramatically.
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In July, confrontations at Dhaka University between protesters, security forces, and pro-government groups resulted in fatalities, fueling further unrest.
The violence has since spread, claiming over 300 lives across the country.
The unrest peaked on August 05, forcing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee to India.
The Bangladeshi Army has taken control to form an interim government.
Protestors subsequently stormed Hasina’s residence, looting it and continuing their vandalism in various parts of Dhaka, including setting fire to the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.
The IGCC, a cultural center operated by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), has been a significant site for promoting cultural ties between India and Bangladesh.
U Tirot Sing Syiem’s statue, along with thematic murals and the renamed U Tirot Sing Library, was unveiled at the IGCC on February 16, 2024, commemorating his legacy and his death under house arrest in Dhaka on July 17, 1835, while imprisoned by the British Raj.