On the night of February 5, a defining emblem of Bangladesh’s independence was reduced to rubble—an act that felt like a dagger to the very heart of the nation’s hard-fought freedom. Dhanmondi 32, the historic residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was torched and vandalized in what many are calling the most brazen assault on Bangladesh’s national identity in decades.
This was not just an attack on a building; it was an attack on the very foundation of the nation. This house—where Bangabandhu declared the struggle for independence, where he and his family were brutally assassinated in 1975, and which later stood as a national museum and the country’s most sacred symbol of independence—was more than just bricks and mortar. It was a monument to the sacrifice, resilience, and aspirations of a people who fought to carve out their own destiny.
Its destruction is more than an act of vandalism; it is an attempt to erase a defining chapter of Bangladesh’s history, to rewrite its past, and to challenge the spirit of liberation that has shaped its national consciousness. The attack raises alarming questions: Who truly holds power in Bangladesh? And what sinister forces are working to reshape its identity, threatening the very ideals of freedom and sovereignty for which millions sacrificed their lives in 1971?
What unfolded on February 5 was not a spontaneous act of protest. It was coordinated, strategic, and deeply political. And now, the battle for Bangladesh’s soul has begun.
It’s not mob violence but organized sinister attack
While some reports initially linked the destruction of Dhanmondi 32 to the ongoing student-led demonstrations, the evidence suggests a far more sinister and organized operation.
Prominent figures associated with the violence include Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, and Sharif Osman Hadi, a leader of the Inquilab Mancha. Both had publicly hinted at the attack before it took place.
The Dhaka Tribune reported that Hadi had openly shared warnings of the assault before it happened, indicating premeditation, not spontaneous unrest. Meanwhile, Hasnat’s incendiary social media post— “Tonight, Bangladesh will be freed from fascism”—only reinforced the suspicion that the attack was politically motivated.
In his Facebook post, convicted war criminal Delwar Hossain Sayeedi’s son Masood Sayedee repetitively called for violence and demolishment of Dhanmondi-32 residence.
Surprisingly, in a Facebook post on February 5, Student leader and Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain urged people to celebrate for the demolishment of Dhanmondi-32.
Another so called social media activists Pinaki Bhattacharya repetitively urged his followers for more violence to demolish the Dhanmondi-32 residence. He also arranged some excavators to demolish the historic establishment.
Social Media activist and Point Person of People’s Activist Coalition ( PAC) Ratul Mohammad also played a role to organize mob to vandalize the house.
The nature and the scale of the attack hinted coordinated and pre-planned attack on Dhanmondi-32 to destroy Bangladesh’s historical legacy.
Interim Government’s Weak Response Raises Alarm
The destruction of Dhanmondi 32 has exposed deep fractures within the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus. While some officials within the administration have called for action, the slow and uncertain response has only fueled suspicions that state actors may have turned a blind eye—or worse, were complicit.
Firoz Ahmed, a member of the Constitutional Reform Commission, issued a stark warning:
“If the Yunus administration cannot ensure justice for such an act, then its very existence is meaningless. If Bangladesh’s history can be burned down in front of the world, then what hope is there for its future?”
His message reflects growing concerns that the destruction of Mujib’s residence is not just an attack on a historical site, but a sign of a larger campaign to dismantle Bangladesh’s secular and independent foundations.
Soon after the attacks on Dhanmondi-32 starts, army personnel went to the scene but stepped back without taking any actions. Police officials also didn’t take any initiative to neutralize the angry mob.
Dhanmondi 32: The House That Built a Nation
For Bangladeshis, Dhanmondi 32 is more than an address—it is a symbol of the nation’s struggle for freedom. Originally registered as House No. 677, Road 32, it was later readdressed as House No. 10, Road No. 11, Dhanmondi, Dhaka. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family moved in October 1961, with his wife Fazilatunnesa Mujib securing loans to build the home, ensuring stability for their family.
From that moment, Dhanmondi 32 became the nerve center of Bangladesh’s independence movement. It was here that Mujib drafted the Six-Point Movement in 1966, laying the foundation for East Pakistan’s autonomy. Even as General Ayub Khan cracked down on dissent, Mujib used the house as a stronghold against Pakistani rule.
On March 7, 1971, after delivering his historic speech at the Racecourse Ground, Mujib returned to Dhanmondi 32, where strategies for the war were further planned. On the night of March 25, as Operation Searchlight unfolded, he made his final call for independence before being arrested and taken to West Pakistan.
Following the Liberation War, Mujib returned on January 10, 1972, choosing to reside at Dhanmondi 32 instead of an official residence. But on August 15, 1975, tragedy struck. Renegade military officers stormed the house and assassinated Mujib and most of his family. Only his daughters, Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, survived as they were abroad.
For years, Bangladesh’s military rulers seized the house, barring Hasina from entering when she returned in 1981. The government even attempted to auction it off due to unpaid debts. Hasina later repaid the dues, reclaiming the house and transforming it into a museum in 1994, preserving the legacy of Bangladesh’s fight for independence.
A Broader Wave of Destruction: Erasing a Nation’s Identity
The attack on Dhanmondi 32 was just one of many. Across Bangladesh, symbols of Sheikh Mujib’s legacy are being targeted. Murals of the Father of the Nation were demolished in Cumilla, Narayanganj, and Rajshahi, while Awami League leaders’ houses were set on fire. The residence of Sheikh Selim in Dhaka’s Banani was torched. Obaidul Quader’s home in Noakhali was ransacked, and in Pabna, a house belonging to an Awami League leader was burned to the ground.
These attacks are not just about politics. They signal a dangerous shift in Bangladesh’s trajectory, where extremist forces are attempting to reverse decades of progress.
Sheikh Hasina in Exile: A Leader Without a Country
Sheikh Hasina, the exiled former prime minister and Mujib’s daughter, addressed the crisis from India. Speaking through a live-streamed address, her voice wavered as she stated:
“They can demolish a building, but they cannot erase history… But they must also remember—history takes its revenge.”
At 77 years old, Hasina remains a deeply polarizing figure, but the attack on Dhanmondi 32 transcends political rivalries. It is a direct challenge to the country’s founding narrative.
The key question now is whether this attack was aimed at Sheikh Hasina, or at the very idea of an independent Bangladesh.
Global Reactions to Bangabandhu’s Residence Demolition
India on February 7 strongly condemned the destruction of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s residence at Dhanmondi 32, calling it a regrettable attack on Bangladesh’s historical consciousness. Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, emphasized that the residence symbolized Bangladesh’s resistance against oppression and that its destruction must be denounced.
Meanwhile, the North American social platform “Ekattorer Prohori” also condemned the act. A statement signed by 44 expatriates, including freedom fighters, artists, professors, and activists, described February 5 as a “tragic black day” for democracy in Bangladesh. Watching the destruction unfold live, they compared it to the dark days of 1971, urging intellectuals and political forces to unite in defense of the country’s independence.
The demolition has drawn global attention, with BBC, Reuters, The Guardian, TRT World, ABC News, CNN, AP, The Hindu, and The Indian Express extensively covering the event. Reports highlighted Dhanmondi 32’s historical significance, noting its role as the headquarters of the anti-Pakistan movement and the site where Sheikh Mujib declared independence. BBC reported that multiple homes linked to Hasina’s allies were also set ablaze, while ABC News noted that protesters saw the house as both a symbol of independence and later of authoritarian rule.
Bangladesh at a Crossroads
The destruction of Dhanmondi 32 on February 5, 2025, was more than an attack on a historic site—it was a strike against Bangladesh’s secular identity and the sacrifices of 1971. It signaled a dangerous attempt to rewrite history and reshape the nation’s future.
Now, Bangladesh faces a defining moment. Will the Yunus administration act decisively to bring the perpetrators to justice, or will it bow to those seeking to distort the past? Will extremist forces exploit the turmoil, threatening the country’s sovereignty? Will Bangladesh defend its independent ethos, or succumb to regressive ideologies?
As the dust settles, one thing is clear—the choices made today will shape Bangladesh for generations. The world is watching.
