Shillong, Oct 24: Meghalaya Arts and Culture Minister Sanbor Shullai has announced plans to re-erect a full-size statue of Tirot Sing Syiem, the legendary freedom fighter from the Khasi Hills, in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Shullai said he intends to take up the matter with the Indian Embassy in Bangladesh to assess the current situation and explore the possibility of reconstructing the statue.

“We will see, and I have to discuss with the Indian Embassy,” the minister stated.

Shullai expressed deep regret over the earlier incident in which the bust of Tirot Sing was dismantled by a crowd in Dhaka. He recalled that the installation of the statue had been his personal initiative during his tenure as Arts and Culture Minister in the MDA-I government.

Condemning the act, Shullai noted that even the statue of the Father of the Nation in Bangladesh had not been spared, describing the incident as unfortunate and disrespectful.

The minister said he has already discussed the matter with Commissioner and Secretary F. Kharkongor and plans to personally visit the site to oversee the reconstruction work.

“We will fix the time, and I will go personally to see the site because we have to reconstruct a full-size statue of the freedom fighter,” Shullai said, adding that the new structure should be a full-size representation of Tirot Sing, not merely a bust.