Time - 11:45 PM, Location - Dhaka, Day - Thursday. The home of Bangladesh's founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, at Dhanmondi-32, is slowly turning into ashes. Flames engulf the building as a crowd of 500-600 cheers on, despite it being the abode of the man who dared to dream of Bangladesh as a distinct nation.
Inside the compound of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's home, around 100 individuals were present. Some were dismantling the building using hammers, while others tore apart bricks and rods.
Using loudspeakers, hooligans, under the guise of student organizations, demanded justice for alleged wrongdoings by the Awami League over the past 15 years.
The Bangabandhu Residence Burns as Looters Revel
Shockingly, during this assault on Bangladesh's heritage, Mohammed Yunus's government did not station even one constable to protect the premises.
Violence swept across 24 districts of Bangladesh on Thursday, targeting leaders of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League. Under the guise of student organizations, thugs torched the homes of Awami League leaders. Paintings of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were set ablaze, statues were destroyed or defaced with black paint.
On Thursday, these hooligans set fire to the remaining parts of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's historic home at Dhanmondi-32. The Daily Star of Bangladesh reported that protestors hosted a non-vegetarian banquet at Dhanmondi-32 while remnants of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's devastated home were carried away into the night.
Protestors Arrive with Cranes and Bulldozers
Following an online address by Sheikh Hasina from her life in exile in India, her opponents quickly organized a bulldozer march on Wednesday through Facebook. Bulldozers and cranes thundered down on Dhanmondi-32 until 2 AM, completely destroying the building.
Source: aajtak
The remaining damage was completed on Thursday, obliterating the building. Alleged protestors looted many historical artifacts. All day Thursday, these protestors chanted slogans at Dhanmondi-32: Delhi or Dhaka… Dhaka, Dhaka. Betrayal or Freedom… Freedom, Freedom.
Hasina's Sudha-Sadan Also Torched
After Dhanmondi-32, these ruffians torched Sudha-Sadan, the residence of Sheikh Hasina in Dhanmondi-5.
The government’s response to the destruction and arson on Bangladesh’s national heritage under Mohammed Yunus has been alarmingly superficial and perplexing.
In a bid to appease protestors, Bangladesh's interim government described the uproar as a consequence of Sheikh Hasina's inflammatory speeches. Notably, while she addressed her followers in Bangladesh from India, vandals were setting fire to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s home.
Yunus Government Labels Events as Public Outrage
Mohammed Yunus, the head of Bangladesh's interim government, labeled the demolition of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's residence as "unacceptable and unexpected," yet attributed it to "the outburst of public fury" incited by Sheikh Hasina's inflammatory comments from India.
Source: aajtak
While the Yunus government left Dhanmondi-32 to the mercy of vandals, they couldn't resist making baseless remarks against India. The statement further expressed, "The government hopes that India will not allow its territory to be used to foster instability in Bangladesh or permit Sheikh Hasina to speak. The interim government desires that such incidents do not repeat in the future."
Following unrest in Bangladesh, the Foreign Ministry lodged a protest with India’s Deputy High Commissioner Pawan Badhe, claiming Hasina’s "false and fabricated comments" constituted “hostile acts” against Dhaka.
Bangladesh urged India to "take immediate suitable measures and, in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding, prevent her from making such false, fabricated, and incendiary statements via social media or other communication channels while in India."
Hasina Warns – History Takes Retribution
At 77, Hasina has resided in India since August 5 last year, fleeing Bangladesh amid mass protests led by students.
In her Wednesday night speech, Hasina called on her compatriots to organize resistance against the current regime.
Addressing Bangladeshis, Hasina, in an emotional tone, recalled how Pakistani soldiers looted the house during the 1971 Liberation War, yet they did not destroy or set it aflame.
Upon witnessing the demolition of her father's home, Hasina asserted, "They can destroy the building, but not history… They must also remember that history avenges."
