The suspect who set fire to two motifs prepared for the Borsho Boron Anondo Shobhajatra at the Faculty of Fine Arts (Charukola) at Dhaka University (DU) has reportedly been identified.

Students of the Department of Arabic at DU claim the individual is Rabiul Islam Rakib, a student of the department and reportedly an activist of the banned student organisation Bangladesh Chhatra League. He is a resident of Surja Sen Hall.

"After the video [of the motifs being set on fire] circulated, students from his department and close associates posted on social media identifying the suspect. They also provided us with some screenshots confirming his identity," DU Proctor Prof Saifuddin Ahmed told The Daily Star.

"We have sent the evidence to the police," he added.

Ramna Division Deputy Commissioner (DC) Masud Alam told The Daily Star that drives are underway to apprehend the suspect.

"We are trying to verify the evidence," he said.

Two installations -- Portrait of Fascism, presumably depicting deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and Dove of Peace -- were set ablaze on the premises of DU's Faculty of Fine Arts early Saturday.

The fire destroyed Portrait of Fascism, while Dove of Peace was partially damaged.

On Saturday, police claimed that the arson was "a deliberate act."

After reviewing CCTV footage, police and university authorities said a young man wearing a black T-shirt, brown pants, and sandals, with his hair tied in a bun, was seen entering and exiting the premises by climbing over the central gate between 4:44am and 4:46am, before heading toward the Chhobir Haat gate of Suhrawardy Udyan.

The suspect was seen pouring a liquid -- presumably flammable -- on Portrait of Fascism and igniting it with a lighter.

The DU administration has formed a five-member committee, headed by Prof Dr Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan, dean of the Faculty of Arts, to investigate the incident.

Khaled Mansur, officer-in-charge of Shahbagh Police Station, said a case has been filed under the Special Powers Act, 1974, over the incident.

This year's Borsho Boron Anondo Shobhajatra theme -- Symphony of the New Year, End of Fascism -- was designed to reflect the spirit of the July mass uprising.

According to organisers, Face of Fascism was the main motif for the rally. Standing 20 feet tall and crafted from bamboo and cane, the structure portrayed a woman with a toothy grin, four horns on her head, a large nose, and two fearful eyes. The striking image led many to believe it resembled ousted PM Sheikh Hasina.