Lady Justice Statue Outside Bangladesh’s Supreme Court Removed For Being ‘Anti-Islamic’

Statue of Lady Justice that stood outside the premises of Bangladesh’s Supreme Court in Dhaka was removed on Friday morning, Dhaka Tribune has reported. The statue, removed from its altar in the dead of night, represents a Bengali woman in sari and was installed outside the country’s apex court in December 2016.

Islamists in Bangladesh were not pleased with the installation of this statue, believing that it represents Greek goddess of justice, Themis. Radical outfits in the country, including the Hefazat-e-Islam, a madrasa-based outfit which aspires to have Shariah law enforced in Bangladesh, the Awami Olama League and the Islami Andolan Bangladesh, staged violent protest, calling the statue ‘anti-Islamic’.

Caving in to pressure from Islamists, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reportedly ordered Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha to either remove the statue or reinstall it at another place so that it cannot be seen from Dhaka’s Eidgah.

However, the removal could not go through without resistance. Hundreds of protesters, mostly students, gathered in front of the court's gate when the news of removal of the statue spread. Sculptor Mrinal Haque, who erected the statue, was also present outside the premises. He said he was under pressure to remove the statue, but did not name the people or authorities that had put pressure on him.