Fresh controversy has erupted in Rajbari after portraits of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Sheikh Hasina were reportedly hung inside the district office of the Bangladesh Awami League, despite the party’s activities remaining effectively suspended in the area.
According to local sources, the portraits and a banner bearing the inscription “Bangladesh Awami League, Rajbari District Office” were put up at some point in the early hours of Wednesday. The banner displayed the photograph of Sheikh Sohel Rana Tipu, Joint General Secretary of the Rajbari district unit. However, by late morning, the interior of the building appeared devoid of the two leaders’ portraits, raising questions about when and how the materials had been installed and subsequently removed.
The party office is located beside the Railgate Shaheed Smriti Square in Rajbari town. When journalists visited the site around 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, they observed a banner featuring Tipu hanging at the entrance. Inside, no framed photographs of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman or Sheikh Hasina were visible. On the second floor, the words “Sheikh Hasina CDI” were seen written in English on a pillar. Several election-related posters featuring Sajeeb Wazed Joy were also affixed to the walls. Meanwhile, a previously installed banner of the Rajbari District Jubo League was found crumpled and discarded on the rooftop.
The timeline of events is summarised below:
| Date & Time | Observed Activity | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday morning | National flag raised | Banner with Jubo League leader’s name displayed |
| Tuesday 10:00 p.m. | Only national flag visible | No portraits or additional banners |
| Early Wednesday (pre-dawn) | Portraits and new banner installed | Masked youths seen in circulating images |
| Wednesday 11:00 a.m. | Portraits absent indoors | Banner of Sohel Rana Tipu visible outside |
Images circulating on social media appear to show several masked young men holding portraits of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Sheikh Hasina and fixing them to the office walls. The lighting in the images suggests the activity took place at dawn. No witnesses have publicly confirmed seeing the installation in person.
Local businessman Russell Mia stated that at around 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday night only the national flag was flying. “When I opened my shop in the morning, I saw a new banner hanging in front of the office,” he said, adding that it must have been erected during the early hours.
Notably, no visible organisational activities had taken place at the Rajbari Awami League office since 5 August last year. After approximately 18 months of apparent inactivity, Tuesday’s flag-raising and banner display marked the first public sign of renewed presence. The subsequent installation of additional portraits and banners has since generated renewed discussion among residents and political observers.
Tapas Kumar Pal, Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) in Rajbari, confirmed that the matter had come to the attention of law enforcement. He stated that both district police and detective branch officers had inspected the site and were investigating the circumstances. Appropriate legal measures would be taken following a thorough inquiry, he added.
The incident has intensified local debate over the party’s status and activities, with many awaiting official clarification in the coming days.