Earlier this Saturday, a black‑ink spray painted Rabindranath Tagore's portrait on the façade of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Segunbagicha, a move that instantly drew the attention of both locals and the police.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Sheikh Zahidul Islam confirmed that four people, including a woman, were taken into custody by the Detective Branch for questioning. The group, detained at Shahbagh Police Station, had allegedly used a brush to smear the mural before being intercepted by an officer.
The woman, who later claimed she was protesting Tagore's alleged opposition to the University of Dhaka, said the poet had asked, 'What need do paupers have of education?' She subsequently recanted, citing a fever and a pretext of attending a regular protest program.
Officials say the incident occurred just days before the Sharadiya Durga Puja festival, raising concerns about potential unrest among the crowds that gather at the academy during the celebrations.
The four detainees are now being interrogated by the Detective Branch; no charges have yet been filed, and authorities are monitoring the situation for any signs of planned provocation.