Dhanmondi 32 house ripped apart
Protesters last night torched and tore down parts of the Dhanmondi-32 residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, after calls in social media for demolishing what they said was a "pilgrimage site of fascism".
An event titled "Bulldozer Procession" was scheduled for 9:00pm, timed to coincide with an online programme where deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina was slated to speak. The virtual event was announced by the now-banned Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. However, hundreds of protesters stormed the building and began taking it apart with shovels and hammers around 8:00pm, an hour before the planned procession. A mural of Mujib was also wrecked, witnesses said.
By around 9:30pm, the building was set on fire. A little before midnight, at least one crane and one excavator reached the spot, and by the time this report was filed around 2:00am today, parts of the building were razed to the ground.
According to some social media posts, the protest was in response to "Hasina's anti-Bangladesh activities from Delhi," where she fled on August 5.
At the scene, protesters chanted various slogans such as "Fashi Fashi Fashi Chai, Sheikh Hasinar Fashi Chai (Hang, hang, hang -- Sheikh Hasina must be hanged!); Sara Banglae Khobor De, Mujibbader Kobor De (Let all of Bangladesh know—let's bury Mujibism!); Awami League-er Pretatta, Bangladeshe Thakbe Na (There will be no place for Awami League's ghosts in Bangladesh!); Delhi Na Dhaka? Dhaka, Dhaka (Delhi or Dhaka? Dhaka, Dhaka!); and Inquilab Zindabad (Long live revolution!)"
One protester demanded that the AL be banned. "Awami League won't be allowed to participate in any election in Bangladesh," he said.
Law enforcers were seen nearby the spot since the beginning. At around 12:40pm, police took position in front of Metro Shopping Mall, yards away from the scene. No firefighters reached the spot as of midnight.
Army personnel went to the spot around 9:30pm, and took position on the main street. Later, they left the area, witnesses said.
"We don't want to keep the memory of any murderer in Bangladesh. Today, we stand against all the murderers … We don't need any security forces here," one protester told this correspondent.
Home Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam and Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner SM Sazzat Ali did not respond when this paper tried to reach them.
Meanwhile, protesters also set fire to Sudha Sadan, the Dhanmondi residence of Hasina's late husband and nuclear scientist MA Wazed Miah, around 11:00pm.
Fire service duty officer Rakibul Hasan said they received reports that the Sudha Sadan was set ablaze around 11:30pm.
"We have also received reports of the arson at Dhanmondi 32. We are acting according to the situation," he said.
Earlier around 7:30pm, The Daily Star spoke to Masud Alam, deputy commissioner (Ramna Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police about the security situation centring on the planned procession. He said they had no knowledge of any plan for attack on Dhanmondi 32.
DMP Additional Commissioner SN Nazrul Islam too said they were unaware of the "Bulldozer Procession".
The announcement of Hasina's virtual address came on Tuesday, and the calls for demolishing the Dhanmondi-32 residence soon followed in social media.
One poster, shared in a Facebook group named "Basherkella" around 3:00pm, shows a bulldozer in front of Mujib's portrait at Dhanmondi 32. Similar posters have been widely shared across Facebook pages.
"All activists and coordinators have agreed to tear down the house number 32. A massive showdown is expected today [yesterday]. Everyone, bring your bulldozers and join in," Ratul Mohammad, spokesperson for a platform called People's Activists Coalition (PAC), wrote in his Facebook page around 4:00pm.
An hour before, July Revolutionary Alliance from its Facebook page made the similar calls.
Later in the evening, Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Students Against Discrimination, wrote in his Facebook, "Tonight, Bangladesh will be freed from the grip of fascism."
Paris-based vlogger Pinaki Bhattacharya also made a similar call in his Facebook page. He urged everyone to head to Dhanmondi 32 and finish it off this time.
Earlier in the day, Hasnat Abdullah warned media outlets against broadcasting Hasina's speech, saying it would amount to promoting her agenda.
"Even now, we see hesitation in naming the real perpetrators. Some media outlets still refer to her as a former prime minister. Is she just a former leader or is she the Butcher of this Motherland?" Hasnat told a press conference at the office of the Students Against Discrimination in the capital's Bangla Motor.
Jatiya Nagorik Committee and the Students Against Discrimination arranged the press conference regarding the launch of a public opinion campaign titled "New Bangladesh Through Your Eyes".
Hasnat said, "She [Hasina] killed 2,000 people to cling to power. Yet, the media does not call her a fascist murderer. If you fail to do so, you are still keeping the pro-Awami media spirit alive.
"If any media outlet broadcasts Hasina's speech, it will be assumed that they are still promoting her and have taken a stance against the aspirations of the people."
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