Statue Wars in Camden

Tonight two noisy demonstrations converged outside Camden Town Hall bringing together dozens of protesters concerned about proposals for siting a statue.

The proposal to put a statue of the founder of Bangladesh in Brunswick Square has divided the local community with some coming to support the idea and others holding banners like “Keep Camden Free From BD Politics” [Bangladesh]

The Camden New Journal had reported the statue of Sheikh Maujibur Rahman, founder of Bangladesh whose daughter is currently the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and was assassinated in 1974, was controversial due to an over large plinth and no connection of the leader to the square but somehow I got the impression that the demonstrations were not debating the merits of plinth dimensions.

Interestingly while the pro-state group was led by women the anti-statue people had no women at all. None. I’m curious as to whether women are generally pro-statue, or is it st this one.

London Assembly Member Murad Qureshi thought it was all hot air, and supported the statue saying “it is a fitting tribute to the founding father of the ancestry home to be acknowledged in the form of a statue in Brunswick Square”. He blamed “Islamists” for opposing the statue (which may fit with the absence of women).

It was thought that despite the noisy demonstrations the application would go ahead but in fact the prop0sals was defeated heavily by the planning committee 7 votes to 1. (Thanks to Tom Foot for the vote result)