Bangladesh: Violent protests have erupted in Bangladesh as demonstrators vandalised and put fire to the former family home of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, along with properties belonging to senior members of her Awami League party.
The unrest was initiated by news that Hasina, who has been in exile in India since her removal last year, planned to address the nation via social media. The 77-year-old leader, once a pro-democracy figure, faced growing backlash over allegations of election rigging, corruption, and a brutal crackdown on dissent.
Protesters utilised an excavator to destroy the house of Hasina’s late father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s founding president. The building had been turned into a museum, but Hasina’s critics claim that her rule has tarnished her father’s legacy.
During a Facebook livestream, Hasina blamed the attack and vowed that history would not be erased. Meanwhile, demonstrators also targeted the residences and businesses of senior Awami League leaders, with calls spreading online to disassemble what protesters describe as “pilgrimage sites of fascism.”
According to police, around 700 protesters gathered at the scene, prompting a heavy security deployment. Since Hasina’s ouster, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has led a caretaker government but has worked to quell the unrest.
Protesters continue to demand Hasina’s prosecution over last year’s crackdown on student-led protests, which left hundreds dead. While Yunus’ administration aims for Hasina’s extradition from India, it is also facing mounting economic challenges.
Yunus has charged Hasina with fabricating Bangladesh’s economic growth and laundering billions during her tenure. The caretaker leader has pledged to hold new elections in late 2025 or early 2026.
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