February 6, 2025 – Hundreds of protesters in Bangladesh have demolished buildings associated with former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, following a wave of unrest triggered by her potential return to public view. The protests escalated with students using excavators to tear down a museum dedicated to Hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s first president.
This unrest comes six months after Hasina fled to India on August 5, amid allegations of her evading an arrest warrant connected to alleged massacres. On Thursday, crowds armed with hammers and metal rods began demolishing structures in the capital, Dhaka, in reaction to reports that the 77-year-old leader might broadcast a message from her exile.
As the protests intensified, many buildings linked to Hasina were vandalized and set ablaze across the country, including her late husband’s home in Dhaka. The situation has raised concerns among residents, with some fearing the implications of the violence.
Local security forces have not intervened, and there has been no official response from the interim government regarding the attacks. Community members expressed worries about the ongoing chaos, acknowledging that the vandalism signals troubling times ahead for the nation.