DHAKA, Bangladesh — On Wednesday, thousands of protesters expressed their frustrations toward exiled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by attacking a family residence that has been emblematic of Bangladesh’s fight for independence. The protesters now associate the house with the authoritarian rule they believe Hasina has perpetuated.
The unrest was ignited by Hasina’s intentions to deliver a speech to her supporters from her current base in India, where she has lived in exile since escaping the country amid a deadly student-led uprising last year against her lengthy rule of 15 years. Detractors have criticized her for stifling dissent during her tenure.
Situated in the nation’s capital, Dhaka, the residence belonged to Hasina’s late father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a key figure in Bangladesh’s independence. He famously declared the nation’s separation from Pakistan at this location in 1971. Rahman was assassinated in 1975 at the same site, which Hasina later converted into a museum to honor his legacy.
Since Hasina’s departure, her supporters have attempted to rally at this historic house, but they have faced violent opposition from her critics, who have targeted various government symbols and buildings associated with her political party, ransacking and setting some ablaze.
On Wednesday, the protesters threatened to “bulldoze” the residence if Hasina proceeded with her speech—which was seen as the kickoff of a month-long protest initiative by her political party, the Awami League. The party aims to garner support in light of claims of violence against its members and other supporters of Hasina.
As Hasina commenced her address, demonstrators broke into the house and began tearing down its brick walls. They later brought in machinery like a crane and an excavator to facilitate the demolition.
Hasina responded to the uproar during her speech by asserting, “They do not have the power to destroy the country’s independence with bulldozers. They may destroy a building, but they won’t be able to erase the history.” She also urged the Bangladeshi populace to reject the new leadership and alleged that they had usurped power through unconstitutional means.
Hasnat Abdullah, a student leader, had previously cautioned media outlets regarding Hasina’s impending speech, announcing on social media that “tonight Bangladesh will be freed from the pilgrimage site of fascism.”
Many protesters voiced demands for Hasina’s execution, citing accountability for the hundreds of fatalities occurring during last year’s widespread uprising against her governance—the most significant civil unrest in the country since gaining independence. Hasina urged the United Nations to investigate the reported deaths.
Protesters also expressed their discontent with India. An interim government headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus is pursuing Hasina’s extradition, though India has yet to respond.
According to reports from the Daily Star, a leading English-language newspaper in Bangladesh, a series of assaults occurred overnight against properties and businesses belonging to supporters of Hasina’s Awami League.
The interim government has struggled to maintain order while preventing retaliatory violence against Hasina’s supporters, and has accused the former prime minister of significant corruption and human rights violations dating back to her rule, which began in 2009.
In turn, Hasina’s Awami League accuses the Yunus-led government of infringing on human rights and suppressing marginalized communities, a claim that the authorities deny.
While Human Rights Watch, based in New York, has commended some reforms implemented by the interim government, it noted the resurgence of “a disturbing pattern of security force abuses” aimed at Awami League supporters and journalists following Hasina’s ousting.
A recent report from the organization indicated that police have resumed arbitrary detentions and issued mass criminal complaints against unidentified persons, facilitating an environment in which individuals can be intimidated or threatened with arrest.
