Erasing all traces of Awami League

On February 5, six months after the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government in Bangladesh, a mob brought down Dhanmondi 32, the residence of Bangladesh's independence icon and Hasina's father, the late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

- SMRUTI S PATTANAIK

On February 5, six months after the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government in Bangladesh, a mob brought down Dhanmondi 32, the residence of Bangladesh's independence icon and Hasina's father, the late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Dhanmondi 32 epitomises so much of history as it was in this house that Rahman and his family members were assassinated during a military coup in August 1975.

Along with Dhanmondi 32, the homes of Awami League (AL) leaders/ministers, including the former President's house, were attacked and set ablaze across the country.

It is alleged that an online speech Hasina addressed to her cadres on that day sparked the violent reaction. Reportedly, the attackers were mobilised by an online campaign that called for a 'bulldozer march' to demolish what one of the student leaders, Hasnat Abdullah, described as a 'shrine of fascism'. But the attack started even before Hasina spoke online.

The interim regime, which is struggling to enforce its writ, blamed Hasina for instigating violence with her 'incendiary remarks' and India for allowing Hasina to address her supporters. It was apparent that the interim regime in Bangladesh had the knowledge of the social media campaign.

Moreover, two prominent leaders of the Anti-Discriminatory Student Movement, now known as the Nagarik Committee - Sharif Osman Hadi and Hasnat Abdullah - supported this demolition.

The security forces let the demolition take place, an uncanny resemblance to the attitude of Mujib's security on the night of his assassination. While Mahfuz Alam, one of the student advisers, has been insisting the "politics of Mujibism and idolization of Sheikh should be abandoned", Hasnat Abdullah, a student activist, said the new Bangladesh belongs to the people. It belongs to those who defeated fascism, arguing that the demolition of Mujib's house was a spontaneous incident.