Shillong: Meghalaya’s Arts and Culture Minister Sanbor Shullai has announced plans to reinstall a life-size statue of Khasi freedom fighter Tirot Sing Syiem in Dhaka, Bangladesh, after the original bust was vandalised during unrest earlier this year.
Speaking on October 24, Shullai said he would work closely with the Indian Embassy in Bangladesh to reconstruct and reinstall the memorial. The earlier bust of Tirot Sing was commissioned during Shullai’s previous tenure as Arts and Culture Minister under the MDA-I government before it was destroyed amid violent incidents in the Bangladeshi capital.
Expressing regret over the vandalism, the minister noted that the destruction occurred alongside attacks on several public monuments, including statues of Bangladesh’s founding father, indicating that the incident was part of broader unrest rather than a targeted act against the Khasi leader’s legacy.
Shullai confirmed that he has already held discussions with Commissioner and Secretary F. Kharkongor to initiate the restoration process. This time, the memorial will be upgraded to a full life-size statue instead of a bust. He also stated that he intends to personally visit Dhaka to inspect the site and oversee the installation.
“The government will ensure that Tirot Sing’s contributions continue to be honoured with dignity,” Shullai said. Officials will soon finalise the schedule for the minister’s visit and the reconstruction timeline.
Tirot Sing Syiem, a 19th-century Khasi chieftain, is revered for leading resistance against British expansion in the Khasi Hills. His legacy remains central to Meghalaya’s cultural and nationalist history.
