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Published : 15 Aug 2024, 12:33 AM
A number of people, including actor Rokeya Prachi, have been assaulted while paying tribute to the nation’s founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi 32.
National award-winning actress Prachi participated in a demonstration near Bangabandhu's residence, calling for justice for all victims of violence earlier. By around 7:30pm on Wednesday, a crowd had assembled carrying candles.
In commemoration of Aug 15, 1975, hundreds gathered to honour the memory by lighting candles at the Shaheed Bedi in front of Bangabandhu Bhaban on Wednesday night.
They expressed their reverence by placing a large portrait of Bangabandhu on an altar, which had replaced the previously destroyed tribute sculpture.
Holding candles, the crowd shouted slogans in remembrance of Sheikh Mujib.
Soon after, a group of young men arrived with sticks and attacked some attendees, including Prachi. The attackers were seen forcibly removing Prachi from the scene.
Earlier, Prachi had said, “We have gathered here today because our Bangladesh is burning, our 1971 is burning.”
“We have assembled because our effigies of Bangabandhu have been torched. Dhanmondi 32 has been burned. We are here because Bangladesh is burning. We are not here for political discussions. Bangladesh belongs to us.”
She added, “We have come to pay our respects peacefully. We honour Bangabandhu. He bestowed this gift upon Bangladesh. We stand here at Dhanmondi 32 to apologise to this great hero.”
Following the fall of the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina on Aug 5, the house in Dhanmondi, which had been established by the Awami League government as a memorial museum for Bangabandhu, was attacked.
Looting and arson left only the walls standing. The previously erected altar and monument dedicated to Bangabandhu were demolished.
Moreover, nearly all of Bangabandhu’s statues, murals, and other memorials across the country have been affected. Efforts have been made to dismantle almost all Liberation War memorials, including the statues of Saat Bir Sreshtho. Over six hundred Liberation War sculptures at Mujibnagar in Meherpur have also been destroyed.
Prachi remarked, "Today, the Bengali nation feels shame for these occurrences. We will stand here in silence for a minute."
"Photos of Bangabandhu and murals have been destroyed, but we will appear as Bangabandhu's soldiers, carrying thousands of his portraits."
On the night of Aug 15, 1975, Bangabandhu and his family were murdered in this house. Since the Awami League came to power in 1996, this day has been observed as National Mourning Day and was designated a public holiday.
The BNP-Jamaat alliance abolished this holiday when it came to power in 2001, but it was reinstated in 2008 by the High Court's directive.
However, after Sheikh Hasina's government fell, the National Mourning Day holiday was cancelled in the first meeting of the Advisory Council of the Interim Government, led by Muhammad Yunus.
Prachi had previously announced her intention to visit Bangabandhu’s residence at Dhanmondi 32. Awami League supporters also planned to pay their respects there. Sheikh Hasina, from India, called for observing the day with due respect.
The planned gathering on Aug 15 has generated considerable anticipation. The Anti-discrimination Student Movement, which played the key role in toppling the government, is now on the streets declaring a four-day 'Resistance Week' starting Aug 14.
