In Bangladesh, thousands of protesters set fire to the historic home of the nation’s founding leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The building, which has been turned into a museum honoring his legacy, became the focus of intense anger as his daughter and former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, urged her supporters via social media to oppose the interim government.
Witnesses reported that protesters, many armed with sticks, hammers, and other tools, gathered around the building and the nearby independence monument. Some demonstrators even brought heavy machinery like cranes and excavators to help demolish the structure. This large-scale protest, called the “Bulldozer Procession,” was organized to disrupt Hasina’s scheduled 9 p.m. online address.
The protesters, many from the “Students Against Discrimination” group, viewed Hasina’s speech as a direct challenge to the interim government. Tensions in the country have been rising since August 2024, when mass protests forced Hasina to flee to India. The interim government, currently led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has struggled to control the unrest, with demonstrators attacking various symbols associated with Hasina’s former administration, including this historic house.
This house holds deep significance for Bangladesh—it is where Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, fondly known as Bangabandhu, declared the country’s independence from Pakistan in 1971 and later became the site of his tragic assassination in 1975. Despite the destruction, Hasina declared in a fiery speech, “They can demolish a building, but not the history. History takes its revenge.” She called on the people to stand against the interim government, accusing them of seizing power unconstitutionally. The student-led movement also expressed intentions to dismantle the 1972 Constitution, which they believe reflects the old regime’s legacy.