Bangladesh Erupts After Hasina’s Online Address; Houses Torched, Mujibur Murals Demolished Across Districts

New Delhi: Violent protests erupted across Bangladesh following the recent online address by Sheikh Hasina, who has been in exile in India since last August when she resigned and managed to flee Bangladesh following a massive students-led uprising in her country.

Protesters targeted Hasina’s father and Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Dhanmondi-32 residence, setting it on fire during Hasina’s address. On Friday, Awami League Presidium member Sheikh Selim’s residence was also torched by a violent mob, according to media reports.

Fire service vehicles were unable to reach the site immediately due to security concerns, according to a Fire Service duty officer as quoted by United News of Bangladesh (UNB).

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader’s house in Noakhali’s Companiganj was also attacked and ransacked, reported The Daily Star.

In Rajshahi’s Chaksinga Mohalla, Bagha upazila, protesters set afire a three-storeyed building belonging to former state minister Shahriar Alam. Over 100 people from Bagha and Charghat arrived on motorbikes and torched the house around noon.

In Pabna’s Shalgaria village, protesters pounced on the home of Awami League’s Abu Sayeed on Thursday evening, breaking the gate, ransacking the property and setting it on fire. Sayeed, accused in a July uprising case along with Hasina and several others, has been in hiding.

Murals of Sheikh Mujib were defaced and demolished in more than 20 districts.

In Cumilla, a bulldozer was used by demonstrators to damage two murals of Sheikh Mujib at Judge Court premises and City Park.

“We will demolish all signs of fascism,” Rashedul Haque, leader of Students Against Discrimination, was quoted as saying.

The 77-year-old Hasina’s 16-year Awami League rule was toppled in August by a countrywide movement protesting against reservation of government jobs.

Though her father Mujib is seen as a hero of Bangladesh’s freedom movement, public anger against Hasina has damaged his legacy.

Hasina condemned the attacks in a Facebook livestream, demanding ‘justice’.

“They can demolish a building, but they can’t erase history,” she said.

Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has issued arrest warrants against Hasina and several former ministers, advisers, and officials for “crimes against humanity and genocide.”