Dhaka University has begun repainting and rewriting July graffiti on walls across its campus to preserve the works while retaining their original characteristics, spirit and significance. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A B M Obaidul Islam inaugurated the initiative at the main gate of the vice-chancellor’s residence on Saturday morning. The university’s public relations office said the programme will run for three days, from August 1 to 3.

The preservation work will cover graffiti at different locations from the vice-chancellor’s building to Rokeya Hall. At the opening event, Obaidul Islam said the graffiti carry memories of what he described as the misrule of the fallen fascist government and the oppression and persecution of that period. He said the preservation initiative was intended to keep those memories alive among the public.

The vice-chancellor said students drew images on walls during July and August depicting Sheikh Hasina’s oppression, torture and anger, and described the graffiti as living history of the country. He called on people to remain vigilant so that fascism does not rise again in the future and urged cooperation with the current government’s efforts to build a society without discrimination. Senior university officials, teachers and students attended the event.