Syed Shemul Parvez :
Violent protests erupted across the country following remarks made by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Agitated students and demonstrators carried out acts of vandalism and arson at several high-profile locations, including the residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Dhanmondi 32, as well as the homes of political figures such as former president of Bangladesh Mohammad Abdul Hamid in Kishoreganj, former minister of Awami League Obaidul Quader in Noakhali, former minister Amir Hossain Amu in Barishal, former minister Tofail Ahmed in Bhola, former MP Mahbubul Alam Hanif in Kushtia, and former MP Shamim Osman in Narayanganj and others in various spots.
Thousands of protesters forcibly entered the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman residence in Dhanmondi 32 also known as the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum on Wednesday night. The crowd, which arrived with a “Bulldozer Procession,” chanted slogans before breaking through the gates, ransacking the premises, and setting fire to the building. Witnesses reported extensive damage, with parts of the structure demolished.
On Thursday, looters were seen taking books, steel frames, metalware, and other items from the site. As of 11:00 a.m., most of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum had reportedly been destroyed.
A violent confrontation occurred later that morning when a mob attacked two individuals, including a woman, in front of the house for allegedly chanting the pro-Awami League slogan “Joy Bangla.” Separately, unidentified individuals set fire to Sudha Sadan, the former residence of Wajed Miah, Sheikh Hasina’s late husband, around 11:00 p.m.
The interim government issued a statement through the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing on Thursday, attributing the vandalism at Dhanmondi 32 to public outrage over Sheikh Hasina’s recent remarks regarding the July uprising.
In response, Dr. Mahbub Ullah, a former professor at the University of Dhaka, told The New Nation, “Can you imagine what would happen to the 180 million people of Bangladesh if Sheikh Hasina were to return? Her 16-year rule severely damaged the country. Despite everything, she still dares to speak about Bangladeshis without showing any remorse for her past actions.”
Attacks on residences of prominent political figures Jamalpur: The house of Mohammad Ali, former advisory council member of the Jamalpur District Awami League and father of actor Meher Afroz Shaon, was vandalised and set on fire on Thursday.
Kishoreganj: The house of Abdul Hamid, former president of Bangladesh, was vandalised and set on fire on Thursday.
Noakhali: On Thursday, thousands of protesters stormed and set fire to the home of former Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader in Companiganj Upazila. Witnesses stated that the house was ransacked, looted, and burned. Protesters accused it of being a center for corruption, extortion, and recruitment irregularities.
Barishal: Protesters began demolishing the homes of former mayor and Awami League leader Sadiq Abdullah and senior leader Amir Hossain Amu using bulldozers on Wednesday night. Bhola: A group of locals set fire to and vandalised the home of Awami League Advisory Council member Tofail Ahmed on Gazipur Road early Thursday morning. Kushtia: The residence of Awami League Joint General Secretary and Kushtia Sadar MP Mahbubul Alam Hanif was attacked by an angry mob at Custom Square around 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Rajshahi: Protesters set fire to the house of Shahriar Alam, the former State Minister for Foreign Affairs, at noon on Thursday. Over 100 people on motorbikes reportedly gathered at the three-story house in Chaksinga Mohalla before setting it ablaze. Narayanganj: A crowd began demolishing the residence of Shamim Osman, a former Awami League lawmaker from Narayanganj-4, in the Baitul Aman area around 7:00 p.m. on Thursday.
Pirojpur: Protesters vandalized and set fire to the homes of former lawmaker AKMA Awal and his brother, former mayor Habibur Rahman, in Parherhat early Thursday morning.
The situation remains tense, with authorities yet to announce any immediate actions to curb the unrest.
