Sad Day For Bangladesh: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Condemns Attack On Mujibur Rahman Statue

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a pivotal leader in the Awami League party. He served as the 1st President of Bangladesh from 1971 to 1972 & then as Prime Minister from 1972 until his assassination in 1975

Bangladesh Crisis: Biocon founder and chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw responded to a video showing rioters in Bangladesh vandalising statues of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the nation's founding father. Commonly referred to as "Bangabandhu," Rahman was also the father of the current ousted Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina.

On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Mazumdar-Shaw expressed her sorrow over the events in Bangladesh, writing, "Destroying the statue of the father of the nation? Do they even know their history? Sad day for Bangladesh.”

Reacting to the post, one user said, ''The anger they have in their hearts for those who laid their lives for the nation. it's just sad. This happens when rot sets in. This is why religion and governance should remain in separate lanes.''

“The irony is that this situation is common in most countries. The youth, especially GenZ, are more focused on social media and quick learning through short videos and reels. The educational system has been affected, and no one seems to be concerned about making them more sensible in any way,” wrote another user.

A third user added: “The new voter learns via YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels and WhatsApp forwards. The negative content has deeper impact. They were born just 18/20 years ago. They can be easily radicalised.”

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a pivotal leader in the Awami League party. He served as the first President of Bangladesh from 1971 to 1972 and then as Prime Minister from 1972 until his assassination in 1975. He played a crucial role in leading the country during its liberation war against Pakistan in 1971 and was instrumental in shaping Bangladesh's formative years. 

The recent unrest in Bangladesh, which ultimately forced Sheikh Hasina to seek refuge in India, saw several major acts of vandalism, including the destruction of multiple statues of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. One disturbing video circulating on social media depicted a man urinating while standing on top of one of these statues. Additionally, a museum dedicated to Rahman was set ablaze, further showing the severity of the turmoil.