Dhaka, Oct. 11 -- Police have filed a case against four people, including ANM Ayash, member secretary of the Rashtra Sanglap Forum, who were detained over an attempt to erase a portrait of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore painted on a wall outside Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka.

The four were formally arrested in the case filed with Shahbagh Police Station on Saturday night, said Sheikh Zahidul Islam, deputy commissioner of police for the Ramna Division.

Besides Ayash, the others arrested are Sakibul Hasan, 19, Sujan Mia, 18, and Marzia Khandaker Rimi, 27.

Zahidul said the case accuses them of attempting to damage and deface the portrait, making provocative statements, engaging in anti-state activities and attempting to under...