Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives (LGRD) Minister Md Tazul Islam said this on Sunday while talking to reporters after a meeting with Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Mustafa Osman Turan at the ministry.

Calling the incident unfortunate, Tazul said, "By vandalising Bangabandhu's sculpture, we not only disrespected him but also belittled ourselves as a nation. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave us independence, and it will be a real shame if we fail to protect his honour."

Miscreants vandalised an under-construction sculpture of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Kushtia city early Saturday. The face and hands of the sculpture were damaged.

The incident sparked protests across Bangladesh.         

To mark Bangabandhu's birth centenary, the local administration decided to install his three sculptures at the five-street intersection of the city in November this year, Kushtia Municipality sources said.

The construction of one of the sculptures, Bangabandhu delivering his historic March 7 speech, started on November 17 and was nearing completion, Kushtia Municipality Engineer Rabiul Islam said.

On December 2, the Turkish ambassador to Bangladesh said a sculpture of Bangabandhu would be set up in Turkey's capital Ankara.

Also, Turan told the media that another sculpture of Kemal Ataturk, father of modern Turkey, would be set up in Dhaka.

However, referring to his meeting with the Turkish ambassador, Tazul said they discussed bilateral issues including infrastructure, communication system, waste management, water drainage, and development of cultural connection and rural areas.