Art, Activism, and Accountability: The Controversy Surrounding Jah…

It was an act meant to challenge and provoke thought, yet the repercussions have rippled far beyond the walls of Jahangirnagar University. When President Amartya Roy and General Secretary Riddha Anindya Ganguly of the Jahangirnagar University Chhatra Union decided to paint anti-rape graffiti over the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, they ignited a firestorm of controversy, legal action, and a fierce debate over the boundaries of protest and respect for national icons. This incident, resulting in their suspension and legal charges, encapsulates a moment of profound tension between advocacy, art, and the weight of historical legacy. Advertisment The Heart of the Controversy The crux of the matter lies in the intersection of an urgent protest against sexual violence and the perceived desecration of a revered figure’s image. The anti-rape graffiti, drawn on the new arts building’s wall, was intended to spotlight the pervasive issue of sexual violence, a noble cause that quickly became overshadowed by the outcry over the choice of canvas. The subsequent hunger strike by two Chhatra League leaders, demanding severe punishment for Roy and Ganguly, underscores the deep divisions and the volatile mix of politics, activism, and respect for national figures that this act has stirred....