During the Eid-ul-Fitr celebration in Dhaka, a festive procession showcased various traditions from Bengal’s Sultanate and Mughal eras. Among the highlights was a puppet representation of the legendary folklore character Nasiruddin Hodja, depicted sitting on a donkey. However, controversy arose as many observed a striking resemblance between the puppet and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer, Shafiqur Rahman. The artist behind the puppet, Assistant Professor Zahidul Haque from Jagannath University, clarified: “Nasiruddin Hodja and Shafiqur Rahman are completely different individuals. The similarity may have been due to the attire, but it is purely coincidental. The character was designed based on an Arabic book cover, and the puppet closely resembles that cover illustration. There was no intention to demean anyone.” Administrator Mohammad Ejaz further explained: “Nasiruddin Hodja is a metaphorical character also found in Bengali literature. Children love such representations, which is why we featured it in the celebration.”