Dhaka, Bangladesh – Thousands of protesters in Bangladesh have vandalised and set fire to the family home of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country’s founding leader and father of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The attack took place on Wednesday night in Dhaka as Hasina, currently in exile in India, delivered a speech online urging her supporters to resist the interim government.

Protesters, angered by her address, stormed the historic house, which symbolises Bangladesh’s independence, and began destroying its brick walls. Some in the mob were seen carrying sticks and hammers, while others reportedly used a crane and an excavator in the demolition.

“They do not have the power to destroy the country’s independence with bulldozers. They may destroy a building, but they won’t be able to erase history,” Hasina declared during her speech as the destruction unfolded.

A historic landmark under attack

The house, where Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971, holds immense historical significance. It was also the site where Mujibur Rahman and most of his family were assassinated in 1975.

Hasina, who survived the attack, had later transformed the residence into a museum. This is not the first time the house has been targeted—last year, it was also set ablaze during anti-government protests.

Political unrest and mob violence

The unrest follows Hasina’s removal from power in 2024 after a deadly student-led uprising. The country’s interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has struggled to contain escalating mob violence against Hasina’s supporters.

On Wednesday, protesters also attacked homes and businesses linked to members of the Awami League, the political party Hasina led for over a decade. The 77-year-old former prime minister, who held power from 2009 until her ousting, has been accused by the interim government of widespread corruption and human rights abuses. In her speech, Hasina condemned the new leadership, claiming they had taken power through “unconstitutional” means.

Bangladesh in crisis

The ongoing turmoil highlights the deep divisions in Bangladesh’s political landscape, with protests continuing to escalate as the interim government struggles to maintain order.

Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the latest attack.