Summary:
- Demolition crews resumed work Thursday morning at Dhaka’s historic 32 Dhanmondi residence using excavators and cranes, following overnight protests where activists dismantled parts of the structure with hand tools.
- Protesters vandalized Sheikh Hasina-linked Sudha Sadan and screened graphic footage of July’s anti-government uprising while chanting slogans against the ousted Awami League regime.
- Nationwide unrest spread to Sylhet, Khulna, and Rajshahi with attacks on Awami League properties, escalating after Hasina’s controversial Facebook address.
- The site became symbolic following its initial August 5 destruction during July’s uprising that toppled Hasina’s government, with organizers now accelerating its erasure.
Crews using heavy machinery resumed demolition work Thursday morning at the former Dhaka residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Dhanmondi’s 32 neighborhood, following a night of mass protests targeting sites linked to Bangladesh’s ousted political leadership. The three-story structure, partially collapsed by excavators, bears anti-government graffiti including “Beware autocrats” scrawled in red paint, while scattered fires smolder in the debris.
Escalating Protests
The demolition follows Wednesday night’s coordinated demonstrations, where hundreds of students and activists armed with hammers, rods, and shovels dismantled sections of the building. Protesters chanted “Bury Mujibism” and “Tear down 32’s walls” while removing windows and bricks as souvenirs. Authorities deployed cranes and bulldozers after midnight to accelerate the demolition despite structural challenges.
Secondary Targets
Nearby Sudha Sadan, a residence linked to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was vandalized and set ablaze around 10:45 PM Wednesday. Demonstrators later screened graphic footage of July’s anti-government uprising on giant screens at the site, highlighting alleged atrocities by police and Awami League affiliates.
Nationwide Unrest
The unrest spread to Sylhet, Khulna, and Rajshahi, with reports of attacks on Awami League offices and homes of party officials. Tensions flared after Hasina’s recent Facebook address, which activists called “provocative,” prompting calls for the “March to Dhanmondi 32” campaign.
Historical Context
The Dhanmondi residence has been a flashpoint since August 5, when public anger over July’s deadly crackdown ignited its initial ransacking. The property remained abandoned after Hasina fled to India during the uprising that toppled her government.
Organizers from the Inquilab Platform and National Citizen Committee had warned of impending demolition in social media posts Wednesday, reflecting growing momentum to erase symbols of the former regime. Security forces maintained a perimeter but did not intervene in the demolition efforts.
Source: Daily Inqilab
