Bangladesh in Turmoil: Protesters Demolish Hasina’s Family Home

TDT | Manama

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Thousands of protesters in Bangladesh have directed their anger at exiled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by demolishing a family home deeply tied to the country’s independence. Once a symbol of liberation, the property has now become a target for those who believe Hasina represented authoritarian rule.

The attack was triggered by a speech Hasina delivered from exile in India, where she sought refuge last year following a deadly student-led uprising against her 15-year tenure. Critics had long accused her of stifling dissent and consolidating power.

The house in Dhaka, the nation’s capital, was the former residence of Hasina’s late father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s independence leader. It was there that he declared the country’s formal break from Pakistan in 1971 before being assassinated within its walls in 1975. Hasina later converted the property into a museum to honor her father’s legacy.

Since her departure, the residence had become a flashpoint of political tension. While Hasina’s supporters attempted to gather there, they were met with violent resistance from opponents. Amid the ongoing unrest, several government and party-affiliated buildings have also been ransacked and set ablaze.

On Wednesday, tensions escalated further as protesters warned they would “bulldoze” the building if Hasina proceeded with her speech, which marked the beginning of a month-long protest campaign by her Awami League party. The party has been seeking to regain public support amid alleged attacks on its members and affiliates.

As Hasina spoke, demonstrators stormed the house, tearing down its brick walls before deploying a crane and an excavator to complete the demolition. The dramatic destruction of the historic site underscores the deep divisions within the country as Bangladesh grapples with political turmoil and unrest.