Demolition continues at Dhanmondi 32 this morning

This Thursday morning, the demolition of the iconic Dhanmondi 32, once home to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in Dhanmondi, Dhaka.

Even as the structure was being torn down with heavy machinery, some areas were still smoldering from fires lit the night before.

At around 8:30 AM on February 6, the scene was tense but active.

Large portions of the three-story house were already reduced to rubble, with workers using excavators to tear apart the remaining structure, including a coconut tree inside the premises.

Amid the destruction, a few individuals were seen trying to collect iron rods from the collapsed roof and broken railings.

Some were using hammers to break apart debris, while others gathered scattered pieces of iron and steel from the ground.

Early morning, after Fajr prayers, more people began making their way to Dhanmondi 32.

Among the crowd were those who had stayed overnight, continuing to watch the demolition unfold.

A number of those gathered expressed that they wanted to erase any traces of dictatorship from the country.

As large sections of the building came down, groups of onlookers could be seen cheering. 

In various areas of the house, red ink graffiti warned, “Dictator, beware.”

The night before, on Wednesday, a large protest had erupted at Dhanmondi 32 following the announcement that the exiled leader Sheikh Hasina’s speech would be broadcast.

Students and members of the public, angered by the news, gathered in masses.

The protest quickly escalated, leading to the vandalism and arson of the house once occupied by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The area was alive with chants such as, “Delhi or Dhaka, the fight isn’t over for Abu Sayeed-Mugdha,” “Spread the word to everyone, let Mujibism be buried,” “Allahu Akbar,” and “Zia’s soldiers, unite and fight.”

The unrest extended beyond Dhanmondi 32.

At Dhanmondi 5/A, Sheikh Hasina‍‍`s residence, Sudha Sadan, also became a target of arson.

Witnesses reported that between 10:30 PM and 10:45 PM, a group of young men arrived and set fire to the locked house.

This followed an earlier attack on Sudha Sadan on August 5, after which the military had sealed the house.

On Wednesday night, protesters broke the lock and set the building ablaze.

It’s important to note that this Wednesday marked exactly six months since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government after a nationwide student and public uprising.

Amidst this, the Awami League surprised many by announcing that Sheikh Hasina, who has been in exile in India since August 5, would give a virtual speech at 9 PM on Wednesday via the banned student organization Chhatra League’s Facebook page.

The announcement sparked a sharp response from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

Hasnat Abdullah, the convener of the movement, posted on Facebook,

“Tonight, Bangladesh will be liberated from the shrine of fascism.”

Earlier on Wednesday afternoon, popular content creators Elias Hossain and Pinaki Bhattacharya also stirred the crowd by announcing a "bulldozer march towards Dhanmondi 32" on Facebook.

As the fires still burned and the demolition continued, the scene at House No. 32 reflected the deep-rooted tensions and public unrest that have gripped the country in recent months.