Bangladesh Protesters Demolish Historic Sites Linked to Sheikh Hasina Amid Escalating Tensions
The demonstration was part of a larger movement called the “Bulldozer Procession,” aimed at disrupting Hasina’s scheduled online address
In a dramatic escalation of protests in Bangladesh, thousands of demonstrators have destroyed and set fire to historic sites linked to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The most significant target was the former home of her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s founding leader, which had been converted into a museum. This site holds immense historical significance as it was where Mujibur Rahman declared independence from Pakistan in 1971.
Thousands of protesters gathered around the historic site on Wednesday night, armed with sticks, hammers, and metal rods. They used heavy machinery like cranes and excavators to demolish parts of the building.
The unrest was sparked by Hasina’s planned social media address from exile in India, urging her supporters to resist the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
During her speech as the demolition unfolded, Hasina condemned the vandalism but acknowledged that history cannot be erased by destroying buildings.
Witnesses reported that several thousand protesters, some wielding sticks, hammers, and other tools, gathered around the historic house and independence monument, while others brought a crane and an excavator to tear down the building.
The demonstration was part of a larger movement called the “Bulldozer Procession,” aimed at disrupting Hasina’s scheduled online address at 9 PM on Wednesday.
Many protesters, particularly those affiliated with the “Students Against Discrimination” group, voiced their anger over Hasina’s speech, which they perceived as a challenge to the newly established interim government.
The student-led movement behind the protests has voiced plans to dismantle the country’s 1972 Constitution, which they argue embodies the legacy of Hasina’s father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s rule.
