Statue of 1971 Surrender Vandalized in Bangladesh

In a troubling development, the iconic statue at the 1971 Shaheed Memorial Complex in Bangladesh, which commemorates the surrender of the Pakistan Army, has been vandalized amid ongoing protests in the country. The incident has sparked sharp reactions from Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who condemned the act as a reflection of “anti-India” sentiment.

The statue, known as the ‘Instrument of Surrender,’ represents the historic moment on December 16, 1971, when Major-General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi and his 93,000 troops surrendered to Indian forces and the Bangladesh Mukti Bahini. This surrender, marking the end of the Bangladesh Liberation War and the Indo-Pakistan War, remains one of the largest military surrenders since World War II.

Tharoor, taking to X (formerly Twitter), expressed his sadness at the destruction of the statue, which he described as a symbol of Bangladesh’s hard-won freedom. His tweet read, “Sad to see images like this of statues at the 1971 Shaheed Memorial Complex, Mujibnagar, destroyed by anti-India vandals. This follows disgraceful attacks on the Indian cultural centre, temples and Hindu homes in several places, even as reports came in of Muslim civilians protecting other minority homes and places of worship.”

The Congress MP’s comments highlighted the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh, where protests initially against government job quotas have escalated into broader anti-government demonstrations. The turmoil has resulted in over 400 deaths and the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India for safety.

Amid this unrest, minority communities, particularly Hindus, have faced severe attacks. Mobs have vandalized homes, looted properties, and committed acts of violence against these communities, leading to a significant number of Bangladeshis seeking refuge in India, especially in Bengal.

Shashi Tharoor has urged Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, the head of the interim Bangladesh government, to take “urgent steps” to restore peace and protect all citizens regardless of faith. Yunus has condemned the attacks on minorities as “heinous” and called on citizens and students to safeguard vulnerable groups from harm.

In this turbulent time, India stands in solidarity with the people of Bangladesh, emphasizing that such acts of violence and vandalism cannot be tolerated.

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