Tuesday, 14 October, 2025
The National Consensus Commission has said it is “considering” a proposal to remove portraits of Bangladesh’s founding father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, from public and private institutions.
To gather opinions, the commission has sent letters to political parties, asking them to submit their views by Saturday. The letter, signed by Vice-Chairman Ali Riaz, was issued on Thursday and provided options for submitting responses via email, WhatsApp, or in person.
According to the 15th amendment to the Constitution, a directive from the Cabinet Division on July 10, 2011, mandated that portraits of Bangabandhu be displayed in the offices of the president, prime minister, speaker, chief justice, as well as in all government and semi-government offices, autonomous bodies, statutory authorities, public and private educational institutions, and Bangladesh’s embassies and missions abroad.
Sculptures at historic Mujibnagar Memorial Complex vandalised
Referring to clause 4(Ka) of that directive, the commission’s letter noted that discussions with political parties and alliances on the drafting and implementation of the July Charter 2025 have concluded, and now the commission is seeking written feedback.
“We received the letter from the Consensus Commission on Thursday,” said Mustafizur Rahman Iran, chairman of the Bangladesh Labour Party.
The debate over the portraits resurfaced after August 5 last year. On November 11, 2024, Information Advisor Mahfuj Alam announced the removal of Bangabandhu’s portrait from the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban, describing it on Facebook as “a shame” that the portraits could not have been removed sooner after Aug 5.
Two weeks later, on November 24, Bangabandhu’s portrait was removed from the conference room of the Nirbachan Bhaban, coinciding with the first media briefing of Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin. The photo was taken down from the wall before the briefing began.
The discussion has intensified amid reports of recent vandalisation at sites associated with Bangabandhu. Activists have targeted the Bangabandhu Memorial (Moral House) and his historic Dhanmondi residence, which has fueled concerns over the security of national heritage and the symbolic legacy of the country’s founding father.
At this stage, the commission is reportedly considering including the proposal to abolish clause 4(Ka) of the Constitution in the July Charter, a move that would formally remove the legal requirement to display Bangabandhu’s portraits in public and private institutions.
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The National Consensus Commission has said it is “considering” a proposal to remove portraits of Bangladesh’s founding father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, from public and private institutions.
To gather opinions, the commission has sent letters to political parties, asking them to submit their views by Saturday. The letter, signed by Vice-Chairman Ali Riaz, was issued on Thursday and provided options for submitting responses via email, WhatsApp, or in person.
According to the 15th amendment to the Constitution, a directive from the Cabinet Division on July 10, 2011, mandated that portraits of Bangabandhu be displayed in the offices of the president, prime minister, speaker, chief justice, as well as in all government and semi-government offices, autonomous bodies, statutory authorities, public and private educational institutions, and Bangladesh’s embassies and missions abroad.
Sculptures at historic Mujibnagar Memorial Complex vandalised
Referring to clause 4(Ka) of that directive, the commission’s letter noted that discussions with political parties and alliances on the drafting and implementation of the July Charter 2025 have concluded, and now the commission is seeking written feedback.
“We received the letter from the Consensus Commission on Thursday,” said Mustafizur Rahman Iran, chairman of the Bangladesh Labour Party.
The debate over the portraits resurfaced after August 5 last year. On November 11, 2024, Information Advisor Mahfuj Alam announced the removal of Bangabandhu’s portrait from the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban, describing it on Facebook as “a shame” that the portraits could not have been removed sooner after Aug 5.
Two weeks later, on November 24, Bangabandhu’s portrait was removed from the conference room of the Nirbachan Bhaban, coinciding with the first media briefing of Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin. The photo was taken down from the wall before the briefing began.
The discussion has intensified amid reports of recent vandalisation at sites associated with Bangabandhu. Activists have targeted the Bangabandhu Memorial (Moral House) and his historic Dhanmondi residence, which has fueled concerns over the security of national heritage and the symbolic legacy of the country’s founding father.
At this stage, the commission is reportedly considering including the proposal to abolish clause 4(Ka) of the Constitution in the July Charter, a move that would formally remove the legal requirement to display Bangabandhu’s portraits in public and private institutions.
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