DHAKA, Bangladesh—Large groups of Bangladeshi artists have begun daily protests after authorities removed two newly commissioned sculptures from Dhaka airport, Agence France-Presse reports. The sculptures of local folk singers, done by one of the country's best-known sculptors, Mrinal Haq, were removed after extremist Muslim groups called them idols and threatened to attack them with power tools.

Now artists, filmmakers, singers, and writers are protesting the Muslim extremists and the government's failure to protect secular Bangladeshi culture. At Dhaka University, Rashed Ahmed painted a python onto a giant piece of white cloth. "The python is the symbol of radical Islamists," said Ahmed. "It has started devouring our rich culture. Unless we can collectively stop it, the survival of our arts, sculptures, writings, and drama will be at stake."

Meanwhile, in the wake of the removal of the sculptures at Dhaka airport, hard-line Islamists calling themselves the Anti-Statues Resistance Committee are now calling for the creation of a minaret honoring Muslim pilgrims on the site. One of the group's leaders, Mufti Fazlul Haq Amini, says that he will "demolish all statues" if his party wins in parliamentary elections on December 18.