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Published : 07 Feb 2025, 03:28 PM
A curious crowd has flocked to the home of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Dhanmondi’s Road No. 32, over half of which was demolished, for a third day.
On Friday, no large machines were being used to demolish the building, but people were seen using hammers and blades to take rods and bricks away from the home of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The vandalism of the building started with the ‘Bulldozer March’ programme held six months after Sheikh Hasina fled to India.
On Wednesday night, the demolition started with a crane and two excavators. No heavy machines have been used at the scene since the last excavator was removed after 10:30am on Thursday.
People looted the house throughout the day on Thursday. Again on Friday, they were seen working to collect construction materials for resale or keepsakes.
Some people were still looking for rods in those parts of the house still standing erect. Others were digging the ground up to take the electric cables.
A group of five people from Keraniganj were breaking up the building with hammers, taking out the rods, and piling them to one side. One of the group, Tajul Islam, said he came to collect the rods a day after he was informed.
“I came in the morning and started to collect rods. I’ll collect as much as I can and then sell them at the scrap metal store,” he said.
Delowar, a man from Mohammadpur, was also collecting rods.
“Everyone is taking the rods, so I am too. I got some yesterday and kept them at home. Whatever I get today, I’ll sell them together.”
A group of men were found digging. One of them, Jalal, said: “There are some electric cables here. I’ll dig them out. Cables fetch quite a good price.”
Curious people thronged around the house on Friday. Some took photos.
Shamim Ahmed, a student from Uttara, visited the scene with his friends. “We came to see the consequences of autocracy. Look and see what can happen to a place in a few months. Everything has been demolished – right to the ground. I hope everyone will learn their lessons from this in future,” he said.
Touhid Hossain, another visitor said: “Just think about the thousands of leaders and activists of the Awami League who made millions - where are they now? Sheikh Mujib was killed, and no one came forward; Sheikh Hasina fled but no one came forward. Today, they demolished Sheikh Mujib’s house, but no one showed up. Then why do they boast of power and engage in party politics and corruption? No one realises that the ultimate power belongs to the people. No power is greater.”
Abdus Samad Bhuiyan, a worker in the private sector, brought his two children as it was the weekend. "I brought my children once when it was a museum. They have asked me to bring them here as the house was being demolished. So I brought them.”
"You can recreate, reproduce everything. But some history, some memories can’t be reproduced by spending billions of taka,” he said.
After a day of vandalism and looting on Thursday, a cow was slaughtered on the premises and a feast was arranged amid the ruins.
News of the destruction spread swiftly, dominating headlines across the country. Throughout Wednesday night into Thursday morning, statues, murals, and other structures bearing the names of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib and the Sheikh family were defaced in districts across Bangladesh. Nameplates were torn down.
The homes of Awami League leaders were set ablaze, while party offices in multiple districts were left to burn.
