Rangamati, May 17 (V7N) - Following the expiration of a 60-hour ultimatum, protesters have begun vandalizing the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman sculpture in Rangamati. The vandalism commenced in the evening, after the organization that issued the ultimatum extended their initial 48-hour deadline by an additional 12 hours. Protesters began a demonstration march at 5 pm on Friday, proceeding to the sculpture site and initiating the destruction.

Leaders and activists from various political parties, including the BNP, Jamaat, Chhatra Shibir, and anti-discrimination and anti-fascist student groups, are participating in the vandalism of the sculpture, which is located near the election office on the Rangamati-Chittagong road.

Earlier in the day, around 3 pm, a protest march organized under the banner of "anti-fascist students and people" began from the city's Bhedhedi Bazaar and culminated in a demonstration in front of the election office.

Rangamati District Council Chairman Kajal Talukder stated, "I have received news of the destruction of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's statue. But I don't know if it is being destroyed."

Previously, on Tuesday, anti-fascist students and the public held a protest march and rally demanding the removal of what they termed a "fascist statue" in Rangamati. They then surrounded the District Council office and held a two-hour rally. Despite the protesters' 48-hour ultimatum, followed by an additional 12-hour extension, the Rangamati District Council, the entity responsible for the sculpture's construction, took no action to remove it. Consequently, the protesters began vandalizing the sculpture with iron hammers and drill machines on Friday evening. The vandalism was ongoing as of 8:30 pm, according to the report.

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