Dhaka, July 12 (V7N) – In a striking form of protest art, graffiti is being painted on the pillars of the capital’s metro rail ahead of the anniversary of the July coup, drawing attention to what organizers call a decade-and-a-half of "fascist rule" under Sheikh Hasina’s government.

Under the title "Fascist Regime Returned", artists are working around the clock—braving monsoon rains—to complete a series of politically charged murals before August 5. The graffiti features a timeline of critical and controversial events during the Awami League’s 15-year rule, including high-profile killings, enforced disappearances, student movements, and alleged suppression of democratic rights.

This series of artwork can be seen prominently along the stretch from Karwan Bazar Metro Station to Farmgate. Each pillar carries a year and a theme on one side, while the other three sides illustrate three major incidents from that year. Events depicted include:

  • The imprisonment of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia

  • The 24 July coup

  • The Shahbagh and safe roads student movements

  • The border killing of Felani and the murder of Tonu

  • The assassination of Biswajit and disappearance of Ilyas Ali

  • The Shapla Chattar massacre and the controversial one-sided elections

The project, which aims to visually archive years of alleged government repression, is receiving logistical support from the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). DNCC’s administrator has requested political groups and residents to refrain from pasting posters on metro rail pillars or anywhere else in the city to preserve the integrity of the public artwork.

Once the Karwan Bazar–Farmgate section is complete, the graffiti campaign will continue along the Bijoy Sarani to Agargaon metro corridor.

Organizers say the artwork serves both as protest and documentation—highlighting untold stories they claim the government seeks to bury.

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