DHAKA: Thousands of protesters set fire to the house of Bangladesh’s founding president as his princess, ousted past PM Sheikh Hasina, called on her followers to have against the time state. Since Hasina was forced to flee to India in August amid months of protests against her law, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1, 000 people, the South Asian country of 170 million people has experienced social conflict.
Witnesses reported that some thousand protesters gathered around the historic home and freedom statue, some of whom were armed with stones, hatchets, and additional tools, while others brought a hoist and archaeologist to demolish the building late on Wednesday.
The demolition continued into Thursday, with much of the front of the house destroyed. Numerous individuals were seen breaking into it and removing books and other items made of steel and wood from the inside. Awami League leaders were the target of similar vandalism that occurred in a number of other locations. At least two people, accused of being members of Awami League, were beaten by the crowd, witnesses said, reported AFP.
The protest rally was organised alongside a broader call, dubbed” Bulldozer Procession”, to disrupt Hasina’s scheduled online address on Wednesday. Protesters, many aligned with the” Students Against Discrimination” group, voiced fury over her speech they saw as a challenge to the newly formed interim govt.
A symbol of the country’s establishment, the house is where Mujibur Rahman declared Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971. In 1975, he and the majority of his family were killed inside the residence. Hasina, who survived the attack, transformed the building into a museum dedicated to her father’s legacy.
Hasina, in a slightly emotion-choked voice, said Pakistani troops too looted the house during the 1971 Liberation War but did not demolish or set it on fire. Protesters also set on fire the late husband of Hasina’s late husband Wajed Mian, known as” Sudha Sadan,” on Road 5 in Dhanmondi.
Similar destructions were accelerated by the actions in Dhaka in other parts of Bangladesh. Sheikh Helal Uddin and Sheikh Salauddin Jewel’s homes were destroyed in Khulna City by protesters. Thousands of people gathered around the house, chanting” Delhi or Dhaka- Dhaka, Dhaka” and” Down with Mujibism”. Prothom Alo, the largest Bengali daily, reported crowds used govt-owned excavators to smash down the building. Mujibur Rahman’s name was taken from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall of Dhaka University by protesters. Additionally, they vandalized a number of Mujibur murals.
