Play store
A graffiti depicting Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore on a wall in Khulna has been defaced with black ink, triggering widespread condemnation and anger among local residents.
The incident came to light on Friday at a wall beside Khulna Railway Station near Shibbari intersection.
The graffiti was part of a series of murals depicting prominent figures and elements of Bangladesh’s history, heritage and culture, painted as part of beautification efforts ahead of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to Khulna.
While portraits of several prominent personalities, including Kazi Nazrul Islam, Lalon Shah, SM Sultan, former prime minister Khaleda Zia and former president Ziaur Rahman, were featured on the wall, only Tagore’s portrait was targeted.
Black ink was used to cover the poet’s face, while several anti-Tagore posters were also put up beside the mural.
The incident drew strong criticism from local residents and cultural activists, who expressed anger over the defacement of the portrait of one of Bengal’s most celebrated literary figures.
Khulna City Corporation Administrator Nazrul Islam Manju condemned the incident, saying the murals had been created to introduce visitors to the region’s history and cultural heritage and encourage free thinking among children and young people.
He described the act as a reflection of narrow-mindedness.
Kajol Islam, convener of the Sammilito Sanskritik Forum Khulna, also criticised attempts to view Tagore’s work through a political lens, stressing his contribution to literature, humanism and secular values.
Officer-in-Charge of Khulna Sadar Police Station Lokman Hossain said police had started looking into the incident but had yet to obtain any significant information.