Bangladesh news: Irked by Sheikh Hasina’s speech, mob set Mujibur Rahman’s house on fire | Videos

A mob vandalised the residence of Bangladesh's founding leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in Dhaka on Wednesday evening, Dhaka Tribune reported. Visuals showed flames on one of the floors of the house.

What triggered the violence?

The violence was triggered by a speech that Hasina intended to deliver to her supporters from exile in India, where she had fled the previous year amidst a deadly student-led uprising against her 15-year reign.

Critics had accused her of stifling opposition.

Also Read: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s portrait removed from Bangladesh President’s office, casting doubt on future of his legacy

The house in Dhaka, the capital, had once been the residence of Hasina's late father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the leader of Bangladesh’s independence movement, who proclaimed the country's separation from Pakistan there in 1971. He was killed in the same house in 1975. Hasina later converted the house into a museum.

What was Sheikh Hasina's speech?

“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,” Hasina said in response during her speech, even as the demolition continued, AP reported.

Also Read: Bangladesh to replace Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s image with ‘graffiti’ on banknotes

She also called on the people of Bangladesh to resist the country's new leaders and alleged that they took power by “unconstitutional” means.

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Multiple social media posts called for a “Bulldozer Procession” towards Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's residence at Dhanmondi-32 if Sheikh Hasina delivered a speech, as reported by the Dhaka Tribune. By 10.45 pm (local time), an excavator had been brought to demolish the house. Protestors, who arrived at a rally around 8PM, forced their way in, breaking into the main gate before proceeding to vandalise the property.

According to the Dhaka Tribune, citing UNB, the protesters, who were allegedly calling for a ban on the Awami League, breached the gate and stormed the premises, doing significant damage. 

Many of the protesters reportedly climbed to the second floor, using hammers, crowbars, and wooden planks to destroy portraits of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and vandalise parts of the historic house, ANI reported. 

Also Read: Bangladesh alters history: New books to say ‘Ziaur Rahman declared freedom’, not Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

Earlier in the day, Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, posted on Facebook: “Tonight, the land of Bangladesh will be freed from fascism.” Other figures, including Sharif Osman Hadi, the convener of the Inquilab Mancha and a member of the Jatiyo Nagorik Committee, also shared posts warning of the attack, Dhakar Tribune reported.

This was not the first time the Dhanmondi 32 residence has been targeted. Earlier on August 5, demonstrators had previously attacked the house, causing destruction and setting parts of it on fire, ANI reported.

(With inputs from ANI)