Bangladesh is witnessing escalating violence as demonstrators vandalized and set fire to the former family home of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The historic residence, once home to the country’s founding leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was attacked by a group of young protesters. The destruction, captured on video, has gone viral online. The unrest intensified following Hasina’s recent address from India. While Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is revered as a national hero, his daughter’s leadership has remained controversial.
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Now a museum, the residence was demolished using an excavator. In response, Hasina condemned the attack during a Facebook livestream, asserting, “They can demolish a building, but they can’t erase history.”
With tensions mounting, nearly 700 protesters gathered at the site, with some also targeting properties belonging to senior figures of Hasina’s Awami League party. The caretaker government, headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, is struggling to manage the ongoing turmoil and economic instability while preparing for national elections expected in late 2025 or early 2026.
Hasina stepped down in 2023 after weeks of violent protests, ending her more than two-decade-long rule. Following her resignation, President Shahabuddin announced the release of opposition leaders and the formation of an interim government.
The protests initially erupted over frustrations with the government job quota system, leading to violent clashes in Dhaka that resulted in multiple casualties. While Hasina’s supporters credit her with economic progress, critics argue that her rule was marked by authoritarianism.
