An excavator was brought to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Dhanmondi-32 residence tonight following social media announcements of a "Bulldozer Procession" to get rid of the "pilgrimage site of fascism".

Earlier, a crane was brought to the area around 11;00pm.

The demolition machines were brought in after protesters stormed and vandalised the Dhanmondi-32 residence.

The procession coincided with an online event where the deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina was slated to speak. Bangladesh Chhatra League, now a banned student outfit, announced the virtual event.

Around 8:05pm, an hour before the scheduled event, the protesters entered the Dhanmondi-32 residence and began vandalising.

They chanted various slogans like "Fashi Fashi Fashi Chai, Sheikh Hasinar Fashi Chai; Sara Banglae Khobor De, Mujibbader Kobor De; Awami League-er Pretatta, Bangladeshe Thakbe Na; Mujibader Astana, Ei Banglae Thakbena; Delhi na Dhaka, Dhaka Dhaka; Inquilab Zindabad".

Photo: Shaheen Molla

One youth demanded the banning of Awami League. "Awami League won't be allowed to participate in any election in Bangladesh," he said.

All along, at least a hundred law enforcers were seen standing on the entrance of Dhanmondi-32 road.

At around 8:30pm, the protesters set fire to some items on the roof. However, this newspaper could not confirm the materials that the protesters set alight.

Photo: Prabir Das

The Awami League government was ousted in a mass uprising last year.

Photo: Palash Khan

Since this afternoon, photo of a poster announcing the procession has been doing the rounds online.

Asked about security measures taken to deal with the situation, Masud Alam, deputy commissioner (Ramna Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told The Daily Star around 7:30pm that they had no knowledge of any such "Bulldozer Procession."

Photo: Palash Khan

DMP Additional Commissioner SN Nazrul Islam also said they were unaware of the programme.

Earlier in the day, Hasnat Abdullah, the convener of the anti-discrimination student movement, posted on Facebook, stating that "Tonight, the land of Bangladesh will be freed from fascism."

Several other prominent figures, including Sharif Osman Hadi, the convener of the Inquilab Front and a member of the Jatiyo Nagorik Committee, also shared posts on social media, warning of the attack and the intention to demolish the house.

This is not the first time the Dhanmondi 32 residence has been targeted.

Following the collapse of the Awami League on 5th August, angry demonstrators had previously attacked the house, causing destructions and setting parts of it on fire.