A violent mob, on Wednesday (5th February), vandalised and set on fire the memorial and residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, the founding father of Bangladesh, located at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. According to reports, the attackers broke into the building after breaking open the gate and vandalised it.
A demonstration reportedly began in front of the memorial around 8 pm and it soon turned violent resulting in the burning down of the memorial. Several videos of the incident showing the Army arriving at the scene and taking position in front of the building have been going viral on social media. The protestors declared that the house which has long been associated with the Mujibur family was a symbol of authoritarianism and fascism.
The last trace of the architect of independent Bangladesh has been burned to ashes today.
— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) February 5, 2025
Cry, Bangladesh, cry. pic.twitter.com/lj17JJ4IzJ
The incident happened a day after the ousted Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina gave a speech urging the workers of her political party, Awami League to stage protests against the Mohammed Yunus-led interim government in Bangladesh. Hasina expressed regret over the incident and said that the protestors were erasing her childhood memory but would not be able to erase her family’s history. “We sisters live for those memories of Dhanmondi, now they are destroying that house. Last time they did set this house on fire now they are breaking that house. They can break this house but they will not be successful in removing history,” she said in an online message.
The last time the Sheikh Mujibur Rehman residence was vandalised was during the violent revolution that took place on 5th August last year which led to the overthrow of the Sheikh Hasina government.
