Arson attack on 'July Memorial' in N'ganj

NARAYANGANJ, July 21: An arson attack has been carried out on the country's first 'July Shaheed Memorial' located in Hajiganj, Fatulla, under Sadar Upazila of Narayanganj. 
The incident took place around 3am on Monday night in the Hajiganj area on the Chashara-Adamjee road. The news came to light on Tuesday afternoon after a local media outlet uploaded a video of the fire that broke out in the early hours. Following this, leaders of the NCP, Anti-Discrimination Student Movement (ADSM), and senior administrative officials rushed to the spot.
According to sources, the country's first 'July Shaheed Memorial' was inaugurated in Hajiganj, Fatulla, on 14 July last year, in memory of those martyred during the July-August 2024 student-people uprising. Five advisers of the then interim government attended the inaugural ceremony. Following this memorial, similar 'July Shaheed Memorials' were constructed in other districts across the country. Each memorial bears the names of the martyrs of the uprising.
Since its inauguration, a temporary police camp under Fatulla Model Police Station was set up beside the memorial in Narayanganj for security purposes. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the police station, Mohammad Mahbub Alam, confirmed that police members on duty at the camp were present at the time of the incident. A video circulating on social media showed police personnel running to extinguish the fire.
In this regard, leaders of the NCP and ADSM said that although this was the first memorial of July, it had not been properly preserved. They demanded that those responsible for the incident be brought under the law. They also alleged that people associated with the Awami League were behind such acts.
OC Mahbub said, "On 16 July, administrative and political leaders paid tribute to the martyrs at this memorial. For that event, the structure was covered with cloth on all sides.
"In the early hours, someone set fire to a small piece of cloth from a distance and hurled it towards the memorial. The fire caught the cloth placed beside the monument. The fire was small, and we were able to extinguish it quickly."
The police officer also claimed that videos of the fire were being created using 'AI technology' to make the incident appear worse and were being circulated on social media.
However, the OC said it has not yet been confirmed who threw the fire or how many people were involved.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) of Narayanganj, Tareq Al Mehedi, said, "Although miscreants set the fire during that early hour, they have not yet been identified. Police are collecting CCTV footage from nearby roads and areas to identify those involved. Information is also being gathered from the police members who were stationed at the camp regarding the matter."
When asked whether any individual from the banned Awami League or its affiliated organisations was involved in the incident, Additional SP Tareq Al Mehedi said, "Whether the Awami League or any of their members are involved can only be confirmed after investigation. We are working swiftly to identify the perpetrators of the arson."