The 30-foot concrete idol will be built with plans to seek Guinness World Records recognition.

Dhaka University’s (DU) Jagannath Hall is set to build a permanent 30-foot Saraswati idol, which is expected to be the world’s largest of its kind.

The foundation stone was laid on Sunday evening (8 November) on the eastern side of Rabindra Bhaban at the hall. DU Vice-Chancellor Professor ABM Obaidul Islam inaugurated the foundation-laying ceremony in the presence of Jagannath Hall Provost Professor Debashish Pal, university officials, students and alumni representatives.

Speaking at the event, Professor Islam said the initiative was taken to fulfil students’ long-standing demands, adding that he wanted to see a Bangladesh free from communal conflict, where everyone enjoys equal rights.

Professor Debashish Pal said the proposed 30-foot concrete idol would surpass the 16-foot permanent Saraswati idol installed in front of the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, DC, in 2013.

He added that the authorities would seek Guinness World Records recognition after completing the construction by following the required procedures.

Meanwhile, Hall Parliament General Secretary Sudipta Pramanik said more than 1,500 students had collected signatures over the past one and a half years demanding a permanent Saraswati idol.

The idol’s design has been provisionally finalised. It was created by Shapan Pala, a former student of DU’s Faculty of Fine Arts. The university administration has extended support to the initiative.