Sheikh Hasina's father's house vandalised, while the houses of her cousins demolished

Violence erupts again in Bangladesh

Dhaka (Bangladesh) – On the night of 5th February, another major violence erupted in Bangladesh. The residence of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s father and Bangladesh’s founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at ‘Dhanmondi-32’ in Dhaka was attacked and vandalized. Security forces were also present at the time of the attack; but they could not stop the incident. At the same time, the houses of Sheikh Hasina’s cousins Sheikh Sohail and Sheikh Jewel in Khulna city were bulldozed. Sheikh Hasina’s uncle fled the country in August. His house was vandalised at 9 pm. Student movement leaders called 2 bulldozers of the municipal corporation and demolished his house.

Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party had called on its workers and leaders to take to the streets on 6th February. The party had called for a march to protest against the cases filed against Sheikh Hasina and attacks on minorities. Sheikh Hasina was to give an online briefing to her supporters at 9 pm. Earlier, a student organization called 24 Revolutionary Students-Janata had announced a bulldozer procession at 9 pm to protest against this. It was said that Sheikh Hasina’s father’s house would be demolished.

On 15th August, 1975, Bangabandhu, his wife, son, daughter-in-law and many relatives were murdered in this house. After this, the house was converted into a memorial museum. Earlier, on 5th August 2024, after Sheikh Hasina left the country, this house was attacked by a mob. It was vandalised and set on fire. Since then, this house has been deserted.

You can demolish a house; but you can’t erase history – Sheikh Hasina

We sisters (Sheikh Hasina came to India with her younger sister Sheikh Rehana) live for those memories of Dhanmondi, now the protesters are destroying that house. Last time they set fire to this house and now they are demolishing it. They can demolish this house, but they will not succeed in erasing history, said Sheikh Hasina after the attack on the house. She was speaking while giving online guidance to her party workers.

Hasina further said that Muhammad Yunus and his government tried to kill me and my sister. If Allah had kept me alive after this attack, then I would have definitely done something great. If this had not happened, how could I have defeated death so many times ? I demand justice from the people of Bangladesh. Have I not done anything for my country ? Then why such humiliation ?