Synopsis
Protesters vandalized and set on fire the residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Dhaka during an online address by his daughter, Sheikh Hasina. Hasina condemned the attack, expressing sorrow over the destruction of her childhood memories.Key Takeaways
- A mob vandalized Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's house in Dhaka.
- Hasina’s live address coincided with the attack.
- Protesters demand a ban on the Awami League.
- Hasina expressed grief over the destruction of her childhood home.
- This is the second attack on Rahman's residence.
New Delhi, Feb 6 (NationPress) A significant group of demonstrators on Wednesday vandalized and ignited a fire at the residence of Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Dhaka during a live online address by his daughter and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The furious mob targeted the memorial and home of Sheikh Hasina's father located at Dhanmondi 32 in Bangladesh while demanding the prohibition of the party he established, the Awami League, on Wednesday evening.
The assailants forcefully entered the premises after breaching the gate and launched a destructive spree.
The protesters were observed demolishing the structure by climbing up and even setting the top floor ablaze.
During her address organized by the now-disbanded student wing Chhatra League, Hasina urged the citizens to unite against the present regime.
"They have not yet acquired the strength to obliterate the national flag, the constitution, and the independence that we achieved through the sacrifices of countless martyrs," Hasina stated, seemingly referencing the regime of Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, established by the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement.
She further mentioned, "They can demolish a building, but not the history... they should also remember that history eventually takes its revenge."
The student movement had previously vowed to abolish Bangladesh's 1972 Constitution, pledging to bury the 'Mujibist constitution,' while some far-right factions called for a revision of the national anthem adopted by the post-Independence government led by Sheikh Mujib.
This house has become an iconic landmark in Bangladesh's history, as Sheikh Mujibur Rahman primarily led the pre-Independence autonomy struggle from there. During the successive Awami League administration, when it was transformed into a museum, foreign dignitaries used to visit as part of state protocol.
The 32 Dhanmondi residence was previously set ablaze on August 5 last year when Hasina's almost 16-year Awami League tenure was overthrown, leading her to secretly depart for India with her sister Sheikh Rehana on a Bangladesh Air Force flight.
Hasina noted that she and her only surviving sibling had entrusted their ancestral home to a trust, converting it into the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum. Sheikh Mujib was affectionately referred to as Bangabandhu or Friend of Bengal since the late 1960s when his autonomy movement evolved into a widespread uprising in 1969.
This marks the second occasion that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's residence has faced mob violence in Bangladesh.
Previously, the house was attacked following former PM Sheikh Hasina's resignation and her escape from the country.
The protesters forcefully entered the property, long associated with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's family, and claimed the house represented authoritarianism and fascism.
They voiced their intentions to eliminate any remnants of the so-called 'Mujibism' and fascism from the nation.
Sheikh Hasina expressed sorrow over the event during her online speech, lamenting that the agitators were destroying her childhood memories, yet they would never be able to erase her family's history.
With tears in her eyes, Hasina remarked, "We sisters cherish those memories of Dhanmondi, and now they are demolishing that house. They previously set it on fire, and now they are breaking it. They can dismantle this house, but they will not succeed in erasing history."
Hasina, 77, has been residing in India since August 5 of last year when she fled Bangladesh following an extensive student-led protest that led to her Awami League's 16-year rule being ousted.
