Rabindranath Tagore’s Mural Defaced in Dhaka, Four Detained for Questioning

October 11, 2026

Dhaka: A mural of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore was defaced with black ink outside the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka on Saturday, prompting police to detain four people, including a woman, for questioning. The incident occurred ahead of the Sharadiya Durga Puja festival and has raised concerns about the possibility of unrest during the religious celebrations.

The mural is located on a wall in front of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the Segunbagicha area of the capital. The Detective Branch (DB) of police is questioning the detainees as part of the investigation.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Ramna Division Deputy Commissioner Sheikh Zahidul Islam confirmed the detentions to the Dhaka Tribune on Saturday evening.

“Four people, including a woman, have been detained. They are now at the DB for questioning. Their names and identities cannot be disclosed at this stage in the interest of the investigation,” the newspaper quoted him as saying.

Videos Show Woman Defacing Tagore’s Mural

Several videos circulating on social media purportedly show a woman using a brush to smear black ink across Tagore’s mural. A police officer from Shahbagh Police Station intervened and moved her away from the spot.

Following a commotion involving the woman and her associates, police detained them and took them away in a van. The group was also heard raising slogans during the incident.

Earlier on Saturday, Shahbagh police detained ANM Ayas, the member secretary of the Rashtra Sanglap Forum, in connection with the case. Two other people, including a woman, were also detained over the incident.

Police have not disclosed the identities of all four detainees, citing the ongoing investigation.

Woman Gives Differing Explanations for Defacing the Mural

Speaking to the media initially, the woman reportedly claimed that Tagore had opposed the establishment of the University of Dhaka and had questioned the need for education for poor people. She described the poet as “against Bangladesh” and said she had defaced the mural in protest.

However, she later offered a different explanation, claiming that she had been suffering from a fever and had visited the Shilpakala Academy area under the pretext of attending a regular protest programme.

The differing explanations have added to the questions surrounding the incident. Police are continuing to question the detainees to establish the circumstances and motive behind the act.

Incident Ahead of Durga Puja Raises Concerns

The defacement took place ahead of Sharadiya Durga Puja, a major Hindu festival celebrated in Bangladesh and other parts of the region. The timing has drawn attention to concerns about possible tensions during the religious celebrations.

However, police have yet to establish whether the incident was connected to any planned provocation or wider activity.

The Detective Branch is continuing its investigation, and further details are awaited.