Bangladesh Protest: A violent attack was carried out on the historic residence of Bangladesh’s founding leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, at Dhanmondi-32 on Wednesday evening. The assault was triggered by an online speech delivered by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, according to local media reports.
The attackers, who had announced plans for a “bulldozer march” in retaliation, stormed the premises around 8pm—an hour earlier than their initially declared time of 9pm. The protesters forcibly broke through the main gate and engaged in widespread vandalism, Dhaka Tribune reported. Many of them climbed to the second floor, using hammers, crowbars, and wooden planks to destroy portraits of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other parts of the house.
#WATCH | Bangladesh | A mob vandalised Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s memorial and residence at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka, demanding a ban on the Awami League. Reports link the protest to an online speech by former PM Sheikh Hasina. pic.twitter.com/UodpJrDTgT
— ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2025
Chanting slogans such as “Fashi Fashi Fashi Chai, Sheikh Hasinar Fashi Chai” (We demand execution, we demand Sheikh Hasina’s execution) and “Mujibader Astana, Ei Banglae Thakbena” (The shelter of Mujibism will not remain in this Bangladesh), the demonstrators declared their intention to erase traces of ‘Mujibism’ and what they called “fascism” from the country, as per The Daily Star’s report.
Protesters stormed and vandalised the #Dhanmondi32 residence of #BangabandhuSheikhMujiburRahman tonight.
Read more: https://t.co/NgWcCFhLcG#Bangladesh #Dhaka #NewsUpdate pic.twitter.com/ydvyDnwpBf
— The Daily Star (@dailystarnews) February 5, 2025
A crane was brought to the site, following social media announcements referring to the residence as a “pilgrimage site of fascism”. However, as of 10:55pm, the machine remained stationed outside the building, the report stated.
Bulldozer has been brought to demolish Sheikh Mujib’s residence at Dhanmondi-32.
Every symbol of Mujib cult should be bulldozed! pic.twitter.com/yWDcpRAszP
— Nznn Ahmed (@na_nznn) February 5, 2025
‘They Can Demolish A Building, But Not History’: Sheikh Hasina Urges Bangladeshis To Resist Yunus Regime
The protest coincided with an online event where Sheikh Hasina was scheduled to speak. The event was organised by the now-banned Bangladesh Chhatra League.
In her address, Hasina urged Bangladeshis to resist the current regime, stating, “They are yet to have the strength to destroy the national flag, the constitution, and the independence that we earned at the cost of millions of martyrs with a bulldozer”, as quoted by news agency PTI. Her comments appeared to be directed at the current government, led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, installed by the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement. She continued, “They can demolish a building, but not the history… but they must also remember that history takes its revenge.”
In a poignant moment, Hasina recalled how Pakistani troops had looted the house during the 1971 Liberation War but did not destroy it. “Today, this house is being demolished. What crime has it committed? Why were they so afraid of the house… I seek justice from the people of the country. Didn’t I do anything for you?” she said, her voice tinged with emotion, as per PTI.
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Earlier in the day, Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the anti-discrimination student movement, posted on Facebook, saying, “Tonight, the land of Bangladesh will be freed from fascism.” Several other figures, including Sharif Osman Hadi, convener of Inquilab Mancha and a member of the Jatiyo Nagorik Committee, also shared social media posts warning of the attack.
This is not the first time the Dhanmondi-32 residence has been targeted. Following the collapse of the Awami League on August 5, 2024, the house was previously attacked and partially set on fire by angry demonstrators.
Despite the scale of the attack, at least a hundred law enforcers were seen standing at the entrance of Dhanmondi-32 road. However, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) officials claimed they were unaware of any such planned demonstration. “We had no knowledge of any ‘Bulldozer Procession’,” said Masud Alam, deputy commissioner (Ramna Division) of DMP, as per The Daily Star. Additional Commissioner SN Nazrul Islam also stated that they had no prior information about the event.
The attack has left significant damage to the historic property, but official statements on the extent of destruction or potential arrests remain awaited.
