Angry protesters launched a violent attack on the residence of Bangladesh’s founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman located at Dhanmondi 32, Wednesday evening.
UNB reports, the attackers forcibly entered the premises after breaking open the gate and began a destructive rampage.
The protest was in response to an online speech given by the former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina.
Many posted on Facebook that a "Bulldozer Procession" would march towards Dhanmondi-32 on Wednesday night if Sheikh Hasina delivered a speech.
By 10:45pm, an excavator had been brought to demolish the house.
Although they had initially threatened to demolish the house with an excavator at 9pm, the protesters altered their plans and arrived earlier, by 8pm.
They reached the residence in a rally and proceeded to break into the main gate, where they engaged in widespread vandalism.
The protesters declared that the house, which had long been associated with the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman family, was a symbol of authoritarianism and fascism.
They expressed their intentions to erase any trace of the so-called ‘Mujibism’ and fascism in the country.
As part of their demonstration, the group chanted slogans demanding the execution of Sheikh Hasina.
Many of the assailants climbed to the second floor of the house, using hammers, crowbars, and wooden planks to destroy portraits of the late leader and other sections of the house.
The attack left significant damage to the historic property.
Earlier in the day, Hasnat Abdullah, the convener of the anti-discrimination student movement, posted on Facebook, saying: "Tonight, the land of Bangladesh will be freed from fascism."
Several other prominent figures, including Sharif Osman Hadi, the convener of the Inquilab Mancha and a member of the Jatiyo Nagorik Committee, also shared posts on social media, warning of the attack and the intention to demolish the house.
This is not the first time the Dhanmondi 32 residence has been targeted.
Following the collapse of the Awami League on August 5, angry demonstrators had previously attacked the house, causing destruction and setting parts of it on fire.
