Bangladesh: Protests possible in Dhaka over Lady Justice statue

Event

Authorities in Bangladesh have announced that they are reinstalling a Lady Justice statue near the country's Supreme Court, two days after it was removed following protests by Islamist hardliners. The statue has been placed close to its original location, where it will apparently be less visible to the public. Several protesters chanted anti-government slogans while the statue was reinstated.

The reinstallation of the statue is seen as a blow to hardliners who are attempting to drum up support ahead of general elections to be held in December 2018. Further protests are possible in the coming days and weeks, and security will be tight around the Supreme Court building.

Context

The Lady Justice statue, installed in December 2016, is considered anti-Islamic by Islamist hardliners. Hefazat-e-Islam supporters have staged several protests in front of the main mosque in Dhaka shortly after the statue was erected. In 2008, widespread protests in Bangladesh led to the removal of a statue of a mystic poet at a road  junction near Dhaka's airport.

The influence of radical Islamic groups has increased over the past decade. Several prominent liberal writers and members of religious minorities have been killed by groups such as Hefazat-e-Islam.

Advice

Individuals present in Dhaka are advised to monitor the situation, exercise caution, and avoid all demonstrations and political gatherings due to the possibility of violence. Follow all instructions issued by the local authorities.