Dhaka, Feb 06 (V7N) – The iconic residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Road No. 32 in Dhaka's Dhanmondi area was vandalized and partially demolished by an angry crowd of students and protesters on Thursday morning. This marks a significant escalation in the ongoing political unrest following the ousting of the Awami League government.

Scenes of Destruction at Dhanmondi 32

By 7:30 AM, heavy machinery, including cranes and excavators, were seen tearing down sections of the historic house, with the front of the residence demolished up to the third floor. Fires were still burning in various parts of the house, while slogans like "Beware of tyranny" were scrawled in red ink across the property.

Eyewitnesses reported a massive turnout of protesters who gathered in front of the house after Fajr prayers. Many were seen cheering as the building was dismantled, while others removed materials such as doors, windows, elevators, and other fixtures. Protesters were also seen breaking and taking away books, steel, iron, tin, and wood from inside the building. The sound of hammers breaking objects echoed throughout the morning as the mob chanted slogans against the Sheikh family.

Destruction Extends to Bangabandhu Memorial Museum

By 10 AM, demolition efforts had expanded to the six-story building behind Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's house, which housed the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum. Protesters entered the building, removing and destroying books and artifacts, many of which were related to the Sheikh family’s legacy. By 11 AM, large portions of the museum had been destroyed, with hundreds of people still looting and dismantling the structure.

Origins of the Uprising

The violence at Dhanmondi 32 follows a bulldozer program announced on Facebook by student groups and anti-government activists. Angry students and citizens began gathering in the area around 8 PM on Wednesday. By 10 PM, fires had been set, and full-scale demolition began by the following morning.

This uprising was sparked after ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced her intention to join a virtual session with leaders and activists of the banned Chhatra League, a student wing of the Awami League. The announcement reignited anger from the July Revolutionary Alliance, which had previously led the student movement that ended Awami League rule in August. In response, they organized a 'Long March to Dhanmondi-32', culminating in Wednesday night's violence.

No Intervention by Authorities

Despite the scale of destruction, there was no significant presence of law enforcement at the scene, with authorities failing to intervene as the house and museum were looted and demolished.

As of this writing, no official statements have been issued by the interim government or law enforcement agencies regarding the incident. The extent of damage to the historic residence and its surrounding structures reflects the depth of public outrage toward the former regime and its leaders.

Further developments are expected as the situation continues to unfold.

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