News Desk

In what appears to be a retaliatory response to deposed premier Sheikh Hasina's online speech from exile in India, the demolition campaign, dubbed the "Bulldozer March", that began with vandalism in Dhanmondoi 32 in capital Dhaka has spread across Bangladesh.

An excavator and crane were used to demolish the residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in an operation that started late on Wednesday night and rolled into the early hours of Thursday.

In Dhanmondi 5, Hasina's residence Sudha Sadan was set on fire.
Outside Dhaka, homes of Hasina's relatives and Awami League leaders, as well as various sculptures, have been vandalised in Khulna, Jashore, Kushtia, Barishal, and Sylhet.

The developments come on the day marking six months since the Hasina government fell and she went into exile amid mass protests.
A large crowd began gathering in the area after 8pm on Wednesday.

As their numbers swelled, some demonstrators broke through the gate and entered the premises, wielding sticks and crowbars.
Some attempted to break down the walls, while others were taking away window grilles, wood, and parts of the gate.

Slogans such as “Nara-e-Takbir”, “Zia’s soldiers, unite and fight”, “Delhi or Dhaka, Abu Sayed-Mugdho — the battle isn’t over”, and “Spread the word, bury Mujibism” were heard from inside.

Among the crowd, many were mere onlookers, watching the scene unfold, capturing photos or videos on their phones, and then moving on.

On Aug 5, the day the Hasina government was ousted, the same residence — closely tied to Bangabandhu’s memory — was set on fire.

On Wednesday evening, after extensive vandalism, protesters set fire to anything flammable inside the premises, while coconut palm leaves were also burning.
Flames were also seen in a building adjacent to the house.

One protester said, “Tonight, we will erase all traces of ‘tyranny’ with a bulldozer.”

Around 10:45pm, amid a protest of nearly 3,000 people, a crane arrived at the house.

As it entered Road No. 32 from the main road, cheers erupted from the crowd, with some climbing onto the crane and shouting slogans.

Shortly after, an excavator followed.

By 11:15pm, the demolition job began in earnest with the crane and excavator.
Within an hour, part of the three-storey house was brought down. The work paused around 1:15am.

Earlier, a documentary on the July uprising was being screened on a projector in an open space opposite the house, organised by the Anti-discrimination Student Movement.

A loudspeaker announcement declared, “We are showing a documentary on the movement. Those who want to demolish, go ahead. Let others watch the documentary in peace.”

Despite prior statements about heightened security in Dhanmondi, only two police vans were seen on the street, with no significant law-enforcing presence in the area.

Around midnight, when army personnel arrived in front of the house on Road No. 32, students and protesters chanted “fake, fake” slogans.

The army withdrew shortly after.

Around 2:45am, the demolition of Bangabandhu’s house was ongoing, with thousands gathered, chanting slogans. Some were seen dancing to music played on loudspeakers.

The crowd at Dhanmondi 32 caused traffic congestion near Russel Square, disrupting movement.

Incoming trucks to Dhaka were caught in gridlock, with traffic on Mirpur Road stretching to Science Laboratory intersection.
SUDHA SADAN SET ABLAZE

Amid the ongoing situation at Dhanmondi 32, a fire was started at Hasina's residence Sudha Sadan in Dhanmondi 5.

A security guard from Dhanmondi Society said a group of youths arrived between 10:30pm and 11pm and set fire to Sudha Sadan.

An attack was carried out at Sudha Sadan on Aug 5, 2024.

Later, army personnel had arrived and locked the house.

On Wednesday night, the lock was broken, and the house was set on fire.

The fire caused panic among local residents, prompting many to rush to the streets in alarm.

Despite the blaze continuing for over an hour, the Fire Service had not arrived at the scene at the time of this report being written.

Sounds of crackling doors, windows, and furniture being consumed by flames were heard in the area.

“BULLDOZER MARCH”

In a related incident, a bulldozer was also used to take down “Sheikh Bari” in Khulna, the residence of Hasina's uncle.

Meanwhile, in Sylhet, a mural of Bangabandhu was also razed to the ground by a bulldozer at the deputy commissioner’s office.

At the same time, a bulldozer was used to tear down the house of Awami League Joint General Secretary Md Mahbub Ul Alam Hanif in Kushtia.

In Natore, former MP Shafiqul Islam Shimul's house was vandalised and set on fire.

In Jashore, a group of youths first vandalised the mural of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the city’s Liberation War Complex.

They then proceeded to damage the mural and nameplate of Hasina at the Central Shaheed Minar of Old Kasba, which was constructed during the previous government's tenure.

At Rajshahi University, nameplates of buildings including the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Hall, Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall, under-construction Sheikh Hasina Hall, and Kamaruzzaman Hall were damaged and replaced with new names.

The portrait of Bangabandhu was destroyed at Khulna University, and his mural at Jahangirnagar University was also demolished.

WHY THE BULLDOZER MARCH?

These events unfolded on the same day that marked six months since former prime minister Hasina left the country after being ousted by a mass movement.

A BBC Bangla report on Tuesday stated that Hasina was scheduled to address an online event on Wednesday night. This prompted a strong reaction from the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, which led the July-August uprising in 2024 that resulted in the fall of the Hasina government.

Hasnat Abdullah, convenor of the group, wrote in a Facebook post: “Allowing Hasina to deliver a speech is an act of war by India against the anti-fascist people of Bangladesh.”

Later, at 6:30pm on Wednesday, Hasnat posted again, saying: “Tonight, Bangladesh’s shrine of ‘fascism’ will be liberated.”

Earlier in the afternoon, controversial content creators Elias Hossain and Pinaki Bhattacharya announced the ‘Bulldozer March’ towards Dhanmondi-32 on Facebook.

They shared a photo card that read: “Following the ‘genocide’ of thousands of students and activists, killer Hasina has fled to Delhi, from where she continues her anti-Bangladesh activities. In protest, the revolutionary students of 2024 will march towards Dhanmondi-32 at 9pm tonight.”

The “Bulldozer March” began at Dhanmondi-32, but soon reports of vandalism and arson emerged from across the country.

WITNESS TO HISTORY

Bangabandhu began living at the three-storey house on Dhanmondi 32 on Oct 1, 1961.

From this residence, he spearheaded Bangladesh’s struggle for independence from Pakistan.

The house bore witness to several pivotal moments in the country’s history, from the Anti-Ayub Movement of 1962 to the Six Point Programme of 1966, the 1970 general elections, and the Non-cooperation Movement at the onset of 1971.

It was at this home that Bangabandhu was arrested by the Pakistani military on the night of Mar 25, 1971.

And it was here, on Aug 15, 1975, that he and most of his family members were assassinated.

When his daughter Hasina returned to Bangladesh in 1981, she was initially barred from entering the house.

Later, on Jun 10 of that year, after clearing outstanding loan payments, she regained ownership but chose not to reside there.

Instead, she handed the property to the Bangabandhu Memorial Trust, which later transformed it into the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.

Awami League chief Hasina fled to India resigning from her premiership on Aug 5, 2024 in the wake of a mass uprising.

Within hours, thousands of people stormed the Ganabhaban and the Prime Minister’s Office.

As unrest spread in Dhaka, several sculptures of Bangabandhu were torn down.

The Dhanmondi 32 house was ransacked and set ablaze, with every room on all three floors engulfed in flames.

Even the mural of Bangabandhu at the entrance, where people and foreign dignitaries had paid their respects for decades, was not spared from destruction.

‘DEMOLISHING BUILDINGS WON'T ERASE HISTORY’

Six months after her departure, Hasina addressed a virtual event hosted on the Awami League’s official Facebook page.

She recounted the party’s role in Bangladesh’s liberation struggle and highlighted development efforts over the past 15 years.

She condemned the attack on the historic house. “They may demolish a structure, but they can never erase history. History always takes its revenge.”

According to her, those vandalising the house are displaying an "inferiority complex”.

“What crime did that house commit? Why are they so terrified of it? I ask the people of Bangladesh to judge—have I not done anything for you?”

Hasina said she holds no resentment or complaints against ordinary students.

"Those who are carrying out this destruction will be recognised as murderers."

“Who are the true fascists—the ones who wreak havoc, or those who work to improve people’s lives? The people of this country will decide,” she concluded.

[Writing in English by Arshi Fatiha Quazi]