In an intense and highly charged display of political dissent, hundreds of Bangladeshi protesters have stormed and destroyed several buildings linked to the ousted former leader, Sheikh Hasina. This violent outburst began on Thursday, just hours after students, wielding heavy machinery, started demolishing a museum dedicated to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s first president and Hasina’s late father.
This latest wave of protests follows reports that the exiled Sheikh Hasina—who fled Bangladesh under dramatic circumstances to India in August 2024—was planning a Facebook broadcast. The 77-year-old former prime minister, who has been in self-imposed exile since fleeing the country, reportedly sparked these protests, as the nation remains divided and enraged over her regime’s autocratic rule that lasted for nearly 15 years. Her departure came after a student-led revolution and months of violent unrest culminated in her forced removal, marking a bitter end to her long-standing political reign.
The protests took a violent turn late Wednesday night, when crowds, armed with hammers, metal rods, and other tools, converged on the capital city of Dhaka. They began demolishing the museum and the former residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which had already been set ablaze during the uprising that brought Hasina’s government down. The relentless destruction continued into the early hours of Thursday morning, with excavators and machinery being used to knock down the remaining fire-damaged walls of Rahman’s former home.
But the destruction didn’t end in Dhaka. Demonstrators in other regions of Bangladesh, particularly in Khulna and Kushtia, escalated the attacks. In Khulna, government-owned excavators were reportedly used to smash down a building connected to the Hasina family. In Kushtia, protesters wreaked havoc on the home of Mahbubul Alam Hanif, a prominent leader in Hasina’s Awami League party. The widespread attacks on properties connected to Hasina and her family members across the country indicate that the protests were not merely symbolic but rather part of a broader, deeply entrenched sense of political frustration.
In Chittagong, further anti-Hasina sentiment manifested in a torch procession and the destruction of a mural of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, illustrating the strong disapproval many Bangladeshis feel toward the political elite. This mural, a symbol of Bangladesh’s founding and the legacy of the country’s independence, now lies in ruins—signaling the profound anger and frustration felt by many citizens over the current political situation.
Despite the growing destruction, the interim government has yet to make an official statement on the violence, leaving many to wonder about the level of control the government has over the ongoing unrest. Security forces appeared to stand by as the protesters wreaked havoc across several major cities, allowing them to carry out their destruction unhindered. Eyewitnesses reported that local security personnel, including private security guards, were left helpless as fires spread through the targeted buildings. One guard from a neighborhood near Rahman’s former residence said he had placed multiple calls to the fire department but feared the fire would spread to nearby buildings, putting local families in danger.
The inability of security forces to manage the protests and curb the violence raises serious concerns about the state of law and order in Bangladesh. It also highlights the deep divide that exists within the country between the government, political elites, and the general population, many of whom feel disenfranchised and disconnected from those in power. As protesters continue to target buildings associated with the former leader and her political allies, the situation remains volatile, and the government’s response—or lack thereof—could have profound implications for the country’s political future.
On the ground, local shopkeepers have expressed growing concerns about the escalating chaos. One shopkeeper, speaking on the condition of anonymity, voiced worry about the increasing violence and the danger it posed to both business owners and families living in the affected areas. “This vandalism is not a good sign,” he said. “The situation is getting out of control, and no one knows when it will end.”
This violence, sparked by political frustrations and grievances against the former leader’s regime, underscores the precarious nature of Bangladesh’s political landscape. With the removal of Hasina after years of controversial governance, the country now faces an uncertain future. The ongoing unrest raises questions about the direction Bangladesh will take in the aftermath of her rule and how the government will respond to the public’s demands for justice and reform.
As the protests continue, the international community is closely monitoring the situation, watching for signs of further escalation and the potential for a larger political crisis. The protests have exposed the deep-rooted challenges Bangladesh faces as it attempts to recover from years of political oppression and economic instability.
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