In a dramatic display of public discontent, thousands of protesters in Bangladesh expressed their frustration towards exiled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by demolishing a family residence that has become emblematic of the nation’s quest for independence. Protesters now associate the house with the authoritarian regime they believe Hasina has fostered.
The unrest was ignited by Hasina’s announcement of a speech she intended to deliver to her supporters from her exile in India, where she sought refuge following a violent uprising led by students against her 15-year tenure. Detractors have accused her of stifling dissent throughout her rule.
The targeted house, located in the capital city of Dhaka, was once the residence of Hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the revered leader of Bangladesh’s independence movement, who famously proclaimed the nation’s separation from Pakistan in 1971. Tragically, he was assassinated there in 1975, and Hasina later transformed the residence into a museum commemorating his legacy.
Since her departure, Hasina’s supporters have attempted to gather at the site but have faced violent backlash from her critics, who have vandalized other symbols associated with her government and party, engaging in arson and destruction across various locations.
On the day of the protest, demonstrators warned they would “bulldoze” the historic building if Hasina proceeded with her speech, which was intended to kick off a month-long demonstration by her Awami League party. The party is seeking support amid accusations of assaults against its members and supporters of Hasina.
As Hasina commenced her address, protesters rushed into the home, dismantling its brick walls and later employing a crane and excavator to tear down the structure. During her speech, Hasina responded to the events, asserting, “They do not have the power to destroy the country’s independence with bulldozers. They may destroy a building, but they won’t be able to erase the history.”
She urged the Bangladeshi populace to stand against the new leadership and claimed they had ascended to power through “unconstitutional” means. Student leader Hasnat Abdullah had earlier cautioned media outlets about Hasina’s speech, proclaiming on Facebook that “tonight Bangladesh will be freed from the pilgrimage site of fascism.”
Protesters further cried out for Hasina’s execution in relation to the hundreds of deaths that occurred during last year’s protests against her leadership, marking one of the most tumultuous periods in the country’s history since independence. Hasina has called for a United Nations investigation into these fatalities.
Additionally, protesters voiced criticism directed at India. An interim administration in Bangladesh, under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has sought Hasina’s extradition, though India has yet to respond.
Reports from the leading English-language publication, Daily Star, revealed that overnight, a series of attacks were launched against properties owned by Hasina’s supporters. The interim government, facing challenges in maintaining order and preventing mob violence against these supporters, has accused Hasina of extensive corruption and human rights violations throughout her governance, which began in 2009.
In retaliation, Hasina’s Awami League has leveled accusations against the Yunus-led administration for infringing on human rights and oppressing minority groups in Bangladesh, which the authorities deny. While New York-based Human Rights Watch has commended the interim government’s reform initiatives, it has also highlighted a concerning resurgence of security force abuses targeting Awami League supporters, including journalists, following Hasina’s ouster. A recent report indicated that police are once again engaging in arbitrary detentions and filing blanket criminal complaints against unidentified individuals, thereby allowing them to intimidate and threaten virtually anyone with arrest.
