Sheikh Hasina said that the people of Bangladesh should unite and protest against the current government. However, the crowd was already angry at her, and during her speech , they set fire to her ancestral house.
On Wednesday, a large group of protesters vandalized and set fire to the Dhaka residence of Bangladesh’s founder, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The incident happened while his daughter, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was addressing people online. Eyewitnesses said that thousands of people had gathered in front of the house in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area since the evening. The house had been converted into a memorial museum earlier.
A call for a “Bulldozer March” was made on social media as Sheikh Hasina was set to deliver her speech at 9 PM local time. Her speech was organized by the now-dissolved student wing of the Awami League, Chhatra League. In her address, the former Prime Minister urged the people to unite and resist the current government.
Sheikh Hasina Warns Muhammad Yunus
Sheikh Hasina indirectly referred to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus’s government, saying, “They still do not have enough power to destroy our national flag, constitution, and the freedom we achieved at the cost of millions of martyrs’ lives with a bulldozer.” She added, “They can demolish buildings, but not history. However, they should remember that history takes its revenge.”
Symbol of Dictatorship
Thousands of protesters claimed that Sheikh Hasina’s family home had become a symbol of dictatorship, though it was once associated with the country’s independence. The house, located in Dhaka, belonged to Hasina’s late father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the leader who declared Bangladesh’s separation from Pakistan in 1971. He was assassinated in 1975. Later, Hasina converted the house into a museum.
Hasina Tries to Gain Support
Sheikh Hasina’s party, the Awami League, is trying to gain support amid accusations that its members and Hasina’s supporters are being attacked. To rally support, the party has launched a month-long protest. During this protest, Hasina started giving online speeches.
On Wednesday, some protesters warned that if the former Prime Minister continued her speech, they would destroy the building with a bulldozer. As soon as Hasina began speaking, the protesters stormed the house, broke the brick walls, and later brought a crane and an excavator to demolish the building.
During her speech, Hasina responded, “They do not have the power to destroy our freedom with a bulldozer. They can destroy a building, but they cannot erase history.” However, the demolition continued. She called on the people of Bangladesh to oppose the country’s new leaders, accusing them of coming to power through “unconstitutional” means.
