Thu Feb 06 07:01:54 UTC 2025: **Bangladesh: Protesters Demolish Home of Founding Father, Target Awami League Supporters**
DHAKA, Bangladesh – Thousands of protesters in Bangladesh demolished and burned the former home of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country’s founding father, on Wednesday night. The attack followed a fiery social media address by his daughter, ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who called for resistance against the interim government from her self-imposed exile in India.
Hasina’s speech, delivered in response to the interim government’s attempt to secure her extradition, fueled the protests. The house, later a museum, was viewed by protesters as a symbol of the Awami League’s rule, which they accuse of suppressing dissent and perpetrating human rights abuses.
The attack, part of a broader “Bulldozer Procession,” involved protesters armed with tools and heavy machinery who levelled the historic building. The violence extended beyond the Rahman home, with reports of attacks on houses and businesses belonging to supporters of Hasina’s Awami League.
Student groups, notably Students Against Discrimination, spearheaded the protests, framing the demolition as a necessary act to dismantle what they called the “symbol of fascism.” Protesters chanted slogans against Hasina, demanding her execution for alleged crimes during last year’s deadly uprising against her government, and against India for sheltering her. They also voiced plans to replace the 1972 constitution.
Despite the destruction, Hasina remained defiant, stating that “They can demolish a building, but not the history. History takes its revenge.” The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, continues to seek Hasina’s extradition. The incident marks a significant escalation in the political turmoil gripping Bangladesh.
First Piper 