Fury in Dhaka: Dhanmondi 32 Torn Down

The house Dhanmondi 32, associated with the memories of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has already been reduced to rubble due to overnight demolition. Work is underway to demolish the remaining part of the house.

This scene was observed on the spot on Thursday (February 6) morning. A large portion of the front of the house, up to three floors, has been demolished. Several people involved in the demolition said that their work will continue until the rest of the building is demolished and leveled with a bulldozer.

Many of those who were there at night were also seen in front of the house in the morning. Many people were seen going towards the house at 32 after the Fajr prayers. Some of those who gathered there said that they did not want to leave any trace of tyranny. They were also seen celebrating as a large part of the building was demolished.

When cranes and excavators were seen demolishing the remaining part of the destroyed house in the morning, fire was also seen burning in some parts of the house. The words ‘Beware of tyranny’ were written in red ink on various parts of the house.

On Wednesday (February 5), it was announced that Sheikh Hasina’s speech would be broadcast on the Chhatra League’s Facebook page at 9 pm. Tensions were high on social media throughout the day yesterday over this announcement. Many students and online activists participating in the anti-discrimination student movement called for a ‘bulldozer procession’ and a ‘March to Dhanmondi 32’ program on Facebook.

That afternoon, Inquilab Mancha convener and Jatiya Nagorik Committee member Sharif Osman Hadi posted several posts on Facebook warning of demolishing house number 32 in Dhanmondi. Online activist Pinaki Bhattacharya, who is based abroad, also called for the demolition of Dhanmondi 32 from his verified Facebook account. He wrote, ‘There will be no number 32. Inqilab Zindabad.’

After 7 pm, Hasnat Abdullah, the convener of the anti-discrimination student movement, said in a Facebook post, ‘Today (Wednesday) night, Bangladesh will be free from the shrine of fascism. After that, the angry students started gathering in front of Sheikh Mujib’s house at Dhanmondi No. 32. Later, they entered the house around 8 pm. As time passed, the crowd also increased. At that time, after extensive vandalism, the house was set on fire. At the same time, the mural of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman installed at the entrance was completely demolished. Later, at 10:50 pm, a bulldozer was brought in front of the house.

Before the vandalism, the angry students said, ‘The tyrannical Sheikh Hasina will address the nation today under the banner of the Chhatra League. We will not allow Bangabandhu and Sheikh Hasina to exist in this country.’

After the Awami League government fell in a mass uprising led by the anti-discrimination student movement, an angry mob attacked, vandalized and set fire to the house at Dhanmondi 32, which is steeped in the memory of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, on August 5. Since then, the house has been in a largely abandoned state.