Investigation committee formed into fire incident at sculptor Manabendra Ghosh’s house

POBNEWS24, Dhaka Apr 16, 2025 : The Manikganj district administration has formed a seven-member investigation committee into the fire incident at the house of sculptor Manabendra Ghosh, who created the motifs for the Ananda Shobhajatra. The committee, headed by Additional District Magistrate Md. Nazmul Hasan Khan, has been asked to submit a report within the next three working days.
On Wednesday (April 16), around 3:30 pm, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Manowar Hossain Mollah confirmed this information.
On Tuesday, around 3 am, miscreants set fire to a house in the village of artist Manabendra Ghosh in Ghosh’s Bazar area of ​​Garpara Union in Sadar Upazila of Manikganj. The furniture, paintings and crafts inside the house were burnt.
According to local sources, the attack may have been triggered by allegations of making a face of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a joyous procession organized in Dhaka on Pahela Baishakh. However, the artist’s family claims that Manabendra Ghosh did not make a face of Sheikh Hasina, he only made a tiger motif.
Artist Manabendra Ghosh said, “I only made a tiger motif on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh. However, false information has been spread on social media and put me and my family in danger. My paintings and furniture have been completely burnt in the fire. Now we are suffering from insecurity and are seeking government intervention.”
The artist also said that he saw controversial posts about him on social media. A day before the fire, he filed a general diary (GD) with the Sadar police station, concerned about his and his family’s safety. His house was set on fire that night. Currently, preparations for a case are underway at the police station.
Following the incident, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Manowar Hossain Molla, Additional Superintendent of Police of Sadar Circle Mohammad Salauddin, members of the Crime Scene Unit of the CID and other law enforcement agencies visited the scene.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sadar Police Station Aman Ullah said that the police immediately went to the scene after receiving the news of the incident. An investigation has been started to identify those involved in the incident. Legal proceedings are also underway.
Deputy Commissioner Dr. Manowar Hossain Molla said that a smart team of the police and the CID is investigating the matter. The exact cause of the incident will be known soon and necessary action will be taken accordingly.