India says attack at historic residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is ‘regrettable’

“This act of vandalism should be strongly condemned,” Indian foreign ministry spokesperson says

India has condemned the attack and vandalism at the house of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhaka’s Dhanmondi Road No. 32 as “regrettable”.

“This act of vandalism should be strongly condemned,” Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement in response to media queries regarding the destruction of the residence on Thursday.

In the statement, Jaiswal said: “It is regrettable that the historic residence of Sheikh Mujibur [Rahman], a symbol of the heroic resistance of the people of Bangladesh against the forces of occupation and oppression, was destroyed on Feb 5, 2025 [Wednesday].

“All those who value the freedom struggle that nurtured Bangla identity and pride are aware of the importance of this residence for the national consciousness of Bangladesh,” it added.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh's foreign ministry summoned India's top diplomat in Dhaka over the statements made by deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina from Delhi, branding them as "false and provocative”.

Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain confirmed the handover of the protest letter to the acting Indian high commissioner in Dhaka afterwards.

At a media briefing at the foreign ministry, he said: “We have requested India in writing to restrain Sheikh Hasina from making such statements. It's going against Bangladesh. We have yet to receive an answer.

"Because of her activities for a few days, we have handed over a letter of protest again today. The high commissioner is unavailable at the moment, the protest letter has been handed to the acting Indian high commissioner asking them to stop her.”

Explaining the reason for lodging the protest, the foreign advisor said: “These statements by her are primarily false. We have mentioned that these are instigating instability in Bangladesh.”

Hasina, deposed in a mass uprising last July, has been in India since Aug 5, 2024. Wednesday marked six months since the collapse of her government and her departure from Bangladesh.

Earlier, the Awami League had announced that Hasina would deliver a virtual address Wednesday night, a move that immediately provoked sharp reactions from the Anti-discrimination Student Movement.

Hasnat Abdullah, convenor of the group, wrote in a Facebook post: “Allowing Hasina to deliver a speech is an act of war by India against the anti-fascist people of Bangladesh.”

Later, at 6:30pm on Wednesday, Hasnat posted again, saying: “Tonight, Bangladesh’s shrine of ‘fascism’ will be liberated.”

Earlier in the afternoon, controversial content creators Elias Hossain and Pinaki Bhattacharya announced the “Bulldozer March" towards Dhanmondi-32 on Facebook.

A large number of people gathered in front of Sheikh Mujib’s house from 8pm, broke through the public gate and started vandalising it. Sticks and axes were used and people started breaking up and carrying away parts of windows, grills, wood, and gates.

The house had previously been set on fire on Aug 5 after the Awami League government fell. Following the vandalism, fires were set inside once again. The building next to the house was also set on fire.

About 3,000 people had gathered around the building when a crane and excavator began to demolish it around 11:15pm. More than half the building was demolished overnight.

The programme was not limited simply to the house on Road 32. Hasina's residence Sudha Sadan was set on fire on Dhanmondi Road No 5. Outside Dhaka, homes of Hasina's relatives and Awami League leaders, as well as various sculptures, have been vandalised in Khulna, Jashore, Kushtia, Barishal, and Sylhet.