Artist Manabendra Ghosh, whose house was set on fire after he was suspected of creating a face motif of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina for ‘Ananda Shobhajatra’, marking Bangla New Year, has claimed that he only made a tiger motif, not the face motif of Sheikh Hasina.

“This is a conspiracy against me. My family and I are now living in fear. I seek the government’s intervention,” he said while talking to reporters at his house on Wednesday.

“Two days before Pahela Baishakh, a smear campaign started against me on social media. It was being claimed that I made a face motif of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and that I committed a wrongdoing. My name and address were used in various posts for spreading this falsehood. Netizens posted harsh comments. But the truth is, I never created the face motif of Sheikh Hasina—I made a figure of a tiger,” said the artist.

Infant dies as parents jump off train after it catches fire in Cox’s Bazar

Unidentified miscreants set fire to the house of artist Manabendra at Garpara Bazar in Sadar upazila of Manikganj district early Wednesday.

Additional Superintendent of Manikganj police Mohammad Salauddin said miscreants set fire to the house around 2:30 am and a room of the house was burnt in the fire.

The artist’s family and relatives said the arson attack might have been carried out due to online outrage following the rumor about the alleged sculpture making.

Manikganj deputy commissioner Monwar Mollah and ASP Salauddin visited the spot.

DC Monwar Hossain Mollah said an expert team of police and CID is working to investigate the incident.

A seven-member committee has been formed to probe the incident and it was asked to submit a report within three days.