The United States is closely monitoring reports of escalating violence in Bangladesh, where radical groups have unleashed destruction across the country, targeting homes of Awami League leaders and activists. Among the most shocking incidents is the attack on the historic residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation, at 32 Dhanmondi in Dhaka.
Since February 5, Islamist extremist mobs have carried out a wave of violent attacks, leaving private homes in ruins and innocent civilians dead. Reports indicate that the interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, has not only failed to protect the population but may be complicit in these attacks.
In response to inquiries from Press Xpress, the US State Department emphasized the need for Bangladesh’s interim government to safeguard human rights and uphold fundamental freedoms.
“We encourage protestors to demonstrate peacefully and for the Bangladeshi Interim Government to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms as it works to maintain law and order,” the State Department stated.
What Happened on February 5?
On the night of February 5, Bangladesh witnessed an unprecedented attack on its national identity. The historic residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi 32—a site symbolizing the country’s struggle for independence—was torched and vandalized in what many describe as a direct assault on Bangladesh’s sovereignty.
This was not merely the destruction of a building. It was an attempt to erase history itself. Dhanmondi 32 was where Mujib declared the struggle for independence, where he and his family were brutally assassinated in 1975, and where the house stood as a museum, preserving Bangladesh’s legacy of liberation.
The attack raises critical questions: Who truly holds power in Bangladesh? What forces are seeking to rewrite history, threatening the nation’s hard-fought independence and sovereignty?
Far from being spontaneous, this act of destruction appeared coordinated, strategic, and deeply political.
Organized Destruction, Not Spontaneous Mob Violence
Initial reports linked the attack to ongoing student-led protests, but emerging evidence suggests a far more orchestrated and sinister operation. Prominent figures associated with the violence had openly hinted at the attack before it took place. Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, and Sharif Osman Hadi, leader of the Inquilab Mancha, had made public statements suggesting that the attack was imminent. Reports from the Dhaka Tribune revealed that Hadi had warned of the assault in advance, indicating that it was not a case of spontaneous unrest but a premeditated action.
Social media activity further confirmed the deliberate nature of the attack. Hasnat Abdullah’s incendiary post, in which he declared, “Tonight, Bangladesh will be freed from fascism,” reinforced suspicions of political motives. Masood Sayedee, son of convicted war criminal Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, repeatedly called for violence against Dhanmondi 32 in Facebook posts. Student leader and government adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain not only welcomed the attack but also urged people to celebrate its destruction.
Other activists played active roles in facilitating the violence. Social media influencer Pinaki Bhattacharya repeatedly encouraged his followers to escalate the attacks and even arranged for excavators to be used in the demolition of the historic residence. Ratul Mohammad, a key figure in the People’s Activist Coalition (PAC), was instrumental in organizing mobs to vandalize the house. The nature and scale of the attack indicate a highly coordinated effort aimed at dismantling Bangladesh’s historical legacy.
Interim Government’s Weak Response Raises Alarm
The destruction of Dhanmondi 32 has exposed deep fractures within the interim government. Despite widespread public outrage, the administration of Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus has responded with hesitation and inaction, fueling suspicions of complicity.
Prominent voices have criticized the government’s failure to act:
“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?” — Firoz Ahmed, Constitutional Reform Commission member
Eyewitness reports reveal that army personnel arrived at the scene but took no action, while police officials failed to intervene, allowing the mob to continue their rampage unchecked.
This inaction has further intensified fears that elements within the government may have deliberately turned a blind eye—or even facilitated—the attack.
Dhanmondi 32: The House That Built a Nation
For Bangladeshis, Dhanmondi 32 is more than just a street address. It is the birthplace of the country’s fight for freedom. Originally registered as House No. 677, Road 32, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family moved into the home in October 1961, financed by loans secured by Fazilatunnesa Mujib.
Over the years, the house became the epicenter 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. On March 7, 1971, after delivering his historic speech at Racecourse Ground, he returned to Dhanmondi 32, where strategies for war were discussed. As Operation Searchlight unfolded on March 25, Mujib made his final call for independence before being arrested and taken to Pakistan.
Following the Liberation War, Mujib returned to Bangladesh on January 10, 1972, choosing to reside at Dhanmondi 32 instead of an official residence. However, on August 15, 1975, tragedy struck when renegade military officers stormed the house and assassinated Mujib and most of his family.
For years, Bangladesh’s military rulers seized the house, preventing Mujib’s daughter Sheikh Hasina from entering after her return in 1981. At one point, the government attempted to auction it off due to unpaid debts, but Hasina later reclaimed the house and transformed it into a museum in 1994, preserving the legacy of Bangladesh’s fight for independence.
A Broader Wave of Destruction: Erasing Bangladesh’s Identity
The attack on Dhanmondi 32 was not an isolated incident. Across Bangladesh, symbols of Sheikh Mujib’s legacy are under siege. Murals of Mujib in Cumilla, Narayanganj, and Rajshahi have been demolished. The homes of Awami League leaders have been burned or ransacked. Sheikh Selim’s residence in Banani was torched, while Obaidul Quader’s house in Noakhali was vandalized. In Pabna, a house belonging to an Awami League leader was set on fire.
These attacks go beyond political conflict; they represent a coordinated effort to dismantle Bangladesh’s secular foundations and rewrite history. The deliberate targeting of Mujib’s legacy suggests a deeper agenda aimed at eroding the country’s hard-fought independence and reshaping its national identity.
What Comes Next?
The US and international observers are closely watching how the interim government will handle this crisis. Will it take decisive action against the perpetrators, or will its inaction embolden further violence? For Bangladesh, the battle is no longer just about governance—it is about protecting its very identity from forces that seek to rewrite its past and dictate its future.
The coming days will determine whether Bangladesh stands firm in the face of these attacks or allows its legacy to be erased.
