Two individuals, including the owner and an employee of a crockery and gift shop in Sherpur, have been detained after an LED screen billboard near Sherpur Town Hall displayed the slogan “Bangladesh Chhatra League, Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu.” The incident led to public outrage, with local protesters handing the suspects over to the police.
The detainees have been identified as Raju Mia, the owner of “Raj Crockeries and Gift Shop” and son of Abdul Malek from Rouha Union, and Kawsar Ahmed, an employee of the shop and son of Saiful Islam from the same area.
According to eyewitnesses, on the evening of January 8, the LED screen on the shop’s billboard unexpectedly displayed slogans associated with the outlawed student organization Bangladesh Chhatra League. The display attracted the attention of passersby, members of the anti-discrimination student movement, and leaders of the Sherpur Municipal Unit of Chhatra Dal. The incident caused significant unrest, prompting local residents to call the police and detain the shop owner and employee.
Khaliquzzaman Siddiqui Asif, Member Secretary of Sherpur Municipal Chhatra Dal, stated, “The outlawed student organization Bangladesh Chhatra League fears public presence. That’s why they resort to such covert acts and conspiracies. This is not how real politics is done. If they want to engage in politics, they must come to the field. We, from the Sherpur Chhatra Dal, are ready to resist this banned organization.”
Arafat Rahman, an organizer from the Sherpur District Committee of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, condemned the incident, saying, “We strongly denounce the display of the outlawed student organization’s slogan on a digital screen. This is undoubtedly a premeditated act. The fascist group that mercilessly opened fire on students is behind this. We demand that law enforcement investigate and take appropriate action.”
Sherpur Sadar Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Zubaydul Alam confirmed the incident, stating, “Upon hearing about the matter, I immediately dispatched police to the location. The public detained two individuals and handed them over to law enforcement. The incident is being treated with the utmost seriousness, and a thorough investigation is underway.”
This is not the first instance of slogans creating controversy through public displays. On October 28, an “Awami League Zindabad” scroll was displayed on a monitor at the entrance of Kamalapur Railway Station, leading to the suspension of an operator and discontinuation of the display. Similarly, on December 14, the message “Sheikh Hasina Will Return Again” was shown on a digital screen at Khulna Railway Station, sparking further criticism.
The Sherpur incident has reignited public debate over the misuse of digital displays and heightened calls for stricter monitoring of such platforms.
