Bangladesh is once again in turmoil. A furious crowd, upset over a speech by former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, vandalized the memorial and home of Bangladesh’s founder, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, located in Dhanmondi 32. This incident took place on the evening of February 5, when the mob stormed into Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s residence, demanding a ban on Hasina’s party, the Awami League.
The attackers broke down the gate and rushed inside, causing chaos. They were seen climbing the building and damaging it, even setting the top floor of Sheikh Mujibur’s house ablaze. Footage of the mayhem is now spreading rapidly on social media.
This marks the second attack on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s house; it was previously targeted after Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country. The mob labeled the building a symbol of dictatorship and fascism while chanting slogans.
Sheikh Hasina condemned the violence, stating that the rioters are ruining her childhood memories but will never erase her family’s history. She noted that while they can destroy the house, they won’t succeed in wiping out the legacy.
It’s worth mentioning that since Hasina’s departure from office and the country, the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has ignored the chaos and religious extremism. Fundamentalist groups have been attacking minorities in Bangladesh, particularly the Hindu and Ahmadiya communities. Human Rights Watch (HRW) recently reported that these religious minorities were targeted due to their traditional support for Hasina’s Awami League party.