Post by : Rameen Ariff

In a poignant statement, Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh's former Prime Minister currently residing in New Delhi, has vehemently condemned the vandalism and arson at her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s historic home. She labeled the act a “barbaric effort to obliterate the legacy of Bangladesh’s Liberation War.” The residence located at Dhanmondi 32, recognized as a poignant symbol of the country’s independence struggle, suffered significant damage during violent protests on February 5.

During a heartfelt interview, Hasina remarked that the attack was not just an assault on a physical structure but a direct attack on the essence of Bangladesh’s identity. She accused those in authority of trying to rewrite history by targeting sites intimately associated with the nation’s quest for freedom. “The destruction of my father’s home represents a cruel attempt to erase our hard-won legacy. It serves as a profound offense to the memories of those who sacrificed their lives for our future,” she asserted.

Despite this bleak event, Hasina conveyed her unwavering confidence in the resilience of the Bangladeshi populace. She believes that the legacy of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman—affectionately known as Bangabandhu—cannot be dismantled as it transcends mere physical buildings. “This legacy is founded not in brick and mortar but in the principles of democracy, equality, secularism, and economic freedom. These ideals cannot be extinguished from the spirit of Bangladesh,” she stated.

The attack at Dhanmondi 32 was executed by a large group of demonstrators, allegedly organized through social media outreach for a “bulldozer procession.” This incident occurred amid escalating political tensions, shortly after Hasina addressed her supporters, criticizing the government that replaced her.

In an emotional communication to her supporters, Hasina questioned what lies behind the relentless assaults on the house where she spent her childhood. “Why do they fear a house? Previously, they set it ablaze, and now they are ruining it. A structure might be destroyed, but you cannot erase history,” she shared, her emotion palpable.

The residence is deeply significant to Hasina. Her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and many of her family members were assassinated there during a military coup in 1975, while she and her sister Sheikh Rehana narrowly escaped as they were abroad. Upon her return to Bangladesh in 1981, Hasina preserved the site, transforming it into the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum to connect future generations with the independence movement’s history.

The inherent symbolic value of Dhanmondi 32 has rendered it a recurrent target during political upheaval, including a fire set there on August 5 last year, heralding the abrupt end of Hasina’s nearly 16-year tenure as she secretively left the nation with her sister.

Hasina perceives the recent incident as part of a broader campaign to stifle the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War. Nevertheless, she remains hopeful that the Bangladeshi people will continue to uphold the values upon which the nation was founded.

“An attempt to demolish a house cannot vanquish our history,” she concluded. “The legacy of Bangladesh endures in its citizens, and no act of violence can uproot that.”

#Asia News #Global