[🇧🇩] The fate of big guns/beneficiaries of Awami League after the student revolution

[Saif]

Former social welfare minister Nuruzzaman arrested

Police have arrested former social welfare minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed in Rangpur city. Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Majid Ali said Nuruzzaman was taken into custody from a residence in the city’s Central Road around 9:15pm on Thursday. Nuruzzaman, a former MP from Lalmonirhat-

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Former social welfare minister Nuruzzaman arrested
bdnews24.com
Published :
Jan 31, 2025 00:14
Updated :
Jan 31, 2025 00:14

Police have arrested former social welfare minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed in Rangpur city.

Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Majid Ali said Nuruzzaman was taken into custody from a residence in the city’s Central Road around 9:15pm on Thursday.

Nuruzzaman, a former MP from Lalmonirhat-2, was appointed state minister for social welfare on Jun 19, 2016.

After winning the 11th parliamentary election, he served as the minister for the same ministry until Jan 11, 2024.

Commissioner Majid said police acted on a tip-off and raided the house, leading to Nuruzzaman’s arrest.

He faces multiple cases, including charges of assault, attempted murder, and murder during the Anti-discrimination Student Movement.

Nuruzzaman, his son, and 126 others were named in a murder case over the death of Mahamudul Hasan Munna during the student protests in Rangpur.

Munna’s father Abdul Majid filed the case with the Rangpur Metropolitan Magistrate Kotwali Amli Court on Aug 29, 2024.

On Jan 28, police arrested Al-Amin Hossain, a leader of the now-banned Chhatra League, the student wing of Awami League, in the Station area’s Babupara with weapons in connection with the same case.

Earlier, on Oct 27, detectives arrested Nuruzzaman’s younger brother, Shamsuzzaman Ahmed Bhuttu, in Lalmonirhat’s Kaliganj Bazar.​

 

[Saif]

Ex-AL MP Nazmin sent to jail in Kurigram

A former Awami League lawmaker from reserved seat in Kurigram was sent to jail today after being arrested last night in two cases filed over attacking protesters during the anti-discrimination student movement

www.thedailystar.net

Ex-AL MP Nazmin sent to jail in Kurigram

Photo: Collected

A former Awami League lawmaker from reserved seat in Kurigram was sent to jail today after being arrested last night in two cases filed over attacking protesters during the anti-discrimination student movement.

Police arrested Ahmed Nazmin Sultana, former president of Kurigram district Mahila AL, from her house in the Moktarpara area of Kurigram old town last night, said Md Saifullah, sub-inspector of Kurigram Sadar Police Station, today.

Around noon, she was handed over to the Kurigram Judicial Magistrate Court, which sent her to jail, said SI Saifullah, also the investigating officer in the case.

Kurigram District Jubo Dal Secretary Nadim Ahmed and Jubo Dal member Abu Taher had earlier filed two separate cases with Kurigram Sadar Police Station on charges of attacking the anti-discrimination student movement. Nazmin Sultana is an accused in both cases.

Nazmin, the wife of Kurigram Sadar Upazila AL President Akhtar Hossain Chinu, was a lawmaker from a reserved women's seat in the 9th National Parliament.​

 

[Saif]

AL leaders' houses, businesses smashed

Demolition work on Dhanmondi-32 was on going till filing of this report at 1:30am

www.thedailystar.net

AL leaders' houses, businesses smashed

Photo: Prabir Das


The Dhanmondi-32 residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sudha Sadan and houses and businesses of some senior Awami League's leaders were vandalised across the country last night.

These followed social media announcements of processions to clear the country of "pilgrimage sites of fascism". The attacks also came as deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina delivered a speech last night.

Photo: Star

In Dhaka, around 11:30pm, protesters started demolishing the residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, located at Dhanmondi 32 in the capital, using a bulldozer.

Earlier, around 8:00pm, protesters stormed and vandalised the Dhanmondi-32 residence.

Photo: Star

Meanwhile, unidentified individuals set fire to Sudha Sadan in Dhanmondi, the residence of Wajed Miah, the late husband of Sheikh Hasina, around 11:00pm.

Fire service duty officer Rakibul Hasan said they received reports of the fire around 11:30pm. "We have also received news of a fire at Dhanmondi 32. We are responding to the situation accordingly," he said.

However, demolition work on Dhanmondi-32 was on going till filing of this report at 1:30am.

In Rangpur, Around 1:15am, a mural of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur was defaced by protesters.

Eye-witnesses said that around 10:00pm, a group of protesters gathered in front of the University's administration building, wielding hammers and rods.

Around 11:50 pm, they brought a bulldozer from Rangpur City Corporation and demolished the mural.

The students also took down the nameplates of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman hall and Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Mujib Hall.

In Sylhet, demonstrators defaced the mural of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in front of Sylhet District Administrator's office around 9:50pm.

Protesters arrived in a procession with an excavator belonging to Sylhet City Corporation and broke through the main gate and tore down the mural.

Earlier, around 8:30 PM, leaders and activists of the anti-discrimination student movement held a protest rally, and sit-in program at Bandar Bazar area. This program was held in protest of program announced by fallen dictator Awami League and their banned affiliated organizations and in demand of justice for all the disappearances, murders, corruption and anti-state activities, and those involved in July massacre.

In Khulna, the home of Sheikh Hasina's cousins Sheikh Helal Uddin and Sheikh Salauddin Jewel was demolished with a bulldozer by protesters.

At around 8:30pm, a large crowd, including students and locals, began demolishing the Sheikh Bari in Khulna's Moylapota area.

Thousands of people gathered around the site, chanting slogans such as "Delhi or Dhaka, Dhaka Dhaka" and "Down with Mujibism."

At 9:30pm, when a small bulldozer failed to break the gate, a larger one was brought in. Additionally, many individuals used sticks and hammers to break down the boundary walls. Around 9:00 PM, a fire was seen burning on the roof of the house for a brief period.

Notably, no law enforcement officers were present in the vicinity during the incident.

Md. Ahsan Habib Additional Deputy Commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police told The Daily Star, "I have seen the news of the incident on Facebook, but I do not have further information. Let me investigate and see if I can provide any additional details."

Sheikh Helal Uddin was the former MP of Bagerhat-1 and Sheikh Salahuddin Jewel was the former MP of Khulna-2.

In Kushtia, the home of former lawmaker of Kushtia-3 and Awami League's joint general secretary Mahbub Alam Hanif and that of Sadar Khan, chairperson of Kushtia Awami League, came under attack.

Around 10:00pm, a group of protesters gathered around Hanif's three-storey home on PTI road with a bulldozer.

The protesters attempted to break down the structure for about half an hour, but only managed to deface the gate and its supporting pillars.

Another group charged at Sadar Khan's house around 11:00pm.

No law enforcement officers were present during these incidents.

Protesters in Chattagram yesterday held a torchlight procession to demonstrate against Sheikh Hasina's speech, which was broadcast from Bangladesh Awami League's social media handles yesterday night.

They later defaced Bangabandhu's murals at Chittagong Medical College and in the city's Jamal Khan area.

In Barishal city, protesters brought a bulldozer to Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah's house to demolish it.

Serniabat is a former mayor of the city corporation and Sheikh Hasina's relative. He owns a two-storey home in the city's Kalibari Road.

The demolition process was underway up until the filing of this report at 1:15am.​

 

[Saif]

ধানমন্ডি ৩২ নম্বরে বিক্ষুব্ধ জনতার ভিড়, ভাঙচুর​

 

[Saif]

Sudha Sadan set on fire

Unidentified individuals set fire to Sudha Sadan in Dhanmondi, the residence of Wajed Miah, the late husband of Sheikh Hasina, around 11:00pm

www.thedailystar.net

Sudha Sadan set on fire

The Daily Star logo

Unidentified individuals set fire to Sudha Sadan in Dhanmondi, the residence of Wajed Miah, the late husband of Sheikh Hasina, around 11:00pm.

Fire service duty officer Rakibul Hasan said they received reports of the fire around 11:30pm. "We have also received news of a fire at Dhanmondi 32. We are responding to the situation accordingly," he said.

On August 5 last year, following the fall of the Awami League-led government, angry protesters vandalised Sudha Sadan.​

 

[Saif]

Dhanmondi 32 ripped apart

Protesters last night torched and tore down parts of the Dhanmondi-32 residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, after calls in social media for demolishing what they said was a “pilgrimage site of fascism”.

www.thedailystar.net

Dhanmondi 32 ripped apart
Protesters torch Sudha Shadan too

An excavator tears down the Dhanmondi-32 residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman while it is still on fire around 1:30am today. Photo: Prabir Das

Protesters last night torched and tore down parts of the Dhanmondi-32 residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, after calls in social media for demolishing what they said was a "pilgrimage site of fascism".

An event titled "Bulldozer Procession" was scheduled for 9:00pm, timed to coincide with an online programme where deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina was slated to speak. The virtual event was announced by the now-banned Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League.

However, hundreds of protesters stormed the building and began taking it apart with shovels and hammers around 8:00pm, an hour before the planned procession. A mural of Mujib was also wrecked, witnesses said.

By around 9:30pm, the building was set on fire. A little before midnight, at least one crane and one excavator reached the spot, and by the time this report was filed around 2:00am today, parts of the building were razed to the ground.

According to some social media posts, the protest was in response to "Hasina's anti-Bangladesh activities from Delhi," where she fled on August 5.

At the scene, protesters chanted various slogans such as "Fashi Fashi Fashi Chai, Sheikh Hasinar Fashi Chai (Hang, hang, hang -- Sheikh Hasina must be hanged!); Sara Banglae Khobor De, Mujibbader Kobor De (Let all of Bangladesh know—let's bury Mujibism!); Awami League-er Pretatta, Bangladeshe Thakbe Na (There will be no place for Awami League's ghosts in Bangladesh!); Delhi Na Dhaka? Dhaka, Dhaka (Delhi or Dhaka? Dhaka, Dhaka!); and Inquilab Zindabad (Long live revolution!)"

One protester demanded that the AL be banned. "Awami League won't be allowed to participate in any election in Bangladesh," he said.

Law enforcers were seen nearby the spot since the beginning. At around 12:40pm, police took position in front of Metro Shopping Mall, yards away from the scene. No firefighters reached the spot as of midnight.

Army personnel went to the spot around 9:30pm, and took position on the main street. Later, they left the area, witnesses said.

"We don't want to keep the memory of any murderer in Bangladesh. Today, we stand against all the murderers … We don't need any security forces here," one protester told this correspondent.

Home Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam and Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner SM Sazzat Ali did not respond when this paper tried to reach them.

Meanwhile, protesters also set fire to Sudha Sadan, the Dhanmondi residence of Hasina's late husband and nuclear scientist MA Wazed Miah, around 11:00pm.

Fire service duty officer Rakibul Hasan said they received reports that the Sudha Sadan was set ablaze around 11:30pm.

"We have also received reports of the arson at Dhanmondi 32. We are acting according to the situation," he said.

Earlier around 7:30pm, The Daily Star spoke to Masud Alam, deputy commissioner (Ramna Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police about the security situation centring on the planned procession. He said they had no knowledge of any plan for attack on Dhanmondi 32.

DMP Additional Commissioner SN Nazrul Islam too said they were unaware of the "Bulldozer Procession".

The announcement of Hasina's virtual address came on Tuesday, and the calls for demolishing the Dhanmondi-32 residence soon followed in social media.

One poster, shared in a Facebook group named "Basherkella" around 3:00pm, shows a bulldozer in front of Mujib's portrait at Dhanmondi 32. Similar posters have been widely shared across Facebook pages.

"All activists and coordinators have agreed to tear down the house number 32. A massive showdown is expected today [yesterday]. Everyone, bring your bulldozers and join in," Ratul Mohammad, spokesperson for a platform called People's Activists Coalition (PAC), wrote in his Facebook page around 4:00pm.

An hour before, July Revolutionary Alliance from its Facebook page made the similar calls.

Later in the evening, Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Students Against Discrimination, wrote in his Facebook, "Tonight, Bangladesh will be freed from the grip of fascism."

Paris-based vlogger Pinaki Bhattacharya also made a similar call in his Facebook page. He urged everyone to head to Dhanmondi 32 and finish it off this time.

Earlier in the day, Hasnat Abdullah warned media outlets against broadcasting Hasina's speech, saying it would amount to promoting her agenda.

"Even now, we see hesitation in naming the real perpetrators. Some media outlets still refer to her as a former prime minister. Is she just a former leader or is she the Butcher of this Motherland?" Hasnat told a press conference at the office of the Students Against Discrimination in the capital's Bangla Motor.

Jatiya Nagorik Committee and the Students Against Discrimination arranged the press conference regarding the launch of a public opinion campaign titled "New Bangladesh Through Your Eyes".

Hasnat said, "She [Hasina] killed 2,000 people to cling to power. Yet, the media does not call her a fascist murderer. If you fail to do so, you are still keeping the pro-Awami media spirit alive.

"If any media outlet broadcasts Hasina's speech, it will be assumed that they are still promoting her and have taken a stance against the aspirations of the people."​

 

[Saif]

Dhanmondi Mujib memorial museum building razed to ground

A large mass of people, including students, in the early hours on Thursday demolished the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum building at Dhanmondi in Dhaka city after hours of vandalism at the historic building since Wednesday evening...

www.newagebd.net

Dhanmondi Mujib memorial museum building razed to ground
Tanzil Rahaman with Nasir Uz Zaman 05 February, 2025, 20:14

A large group of people, including students vandalise Bangabandhu Museum building and set it on fire at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka on Wednesday evening. Later the building was razed to the ground. | Md Saurav

Sudha Sadan set on fire; Helal’s Khulna house, Hanif’s Kushtia house bulldozed; RU hall nameplates removed; Mujib portrait, murals vandalised in Ctg

A large mass of people, including students, in the early hours on Thursday demolished the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum building at Dhanmondi in Dhaka city after hours of vandalism at the historic building since Wednesday evening.

The agitated mob stormed the residence of the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at about 8:00pm on Wednesday and rampaged through the property already wrecked by mass protesters on August 5 immediately after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina.

Meanwhile, unidentified people set fire to the Sheikh Hasina’s late husband’s house Sudha Sadan in Dhanmondi area at about 11:00pm, said witnesses.

Fire service duty officer Rakibul Hasan said that they received the reports of fire at about 11:30pm but no firefighters were sent to the spot.

Witnesses said that a bulldozer, arriving at the spot midnight past Wednesday, started felling trees and razing the historic building to the ground.

Before the arrival of the bulldozer, the agitators were seen to fetch a private company crane at the site.

The Dhanmondi 32 building was also set on fire at one point of the vandalism and the mob was also seen rejoice the destruction.

The property was the residence of the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman until a group of army personnel assassinated him along with all but two of his family members in the early hours of August 15, 1975, at the residence.

Over a thousand agitators stormed the museum premises at about 8:00pm after Student Against Discrimination convener Hasnat Abdullah announced on his verified Facebook page that Bangladesh would be freed of the bastions of fascism on Wednesday night.

Programmes on social media platforms were also announced immediately after Hasnat’s announcement, urging people to join the ‘Bulldozer Procession’ to demolish the Dhanmondi 32 building.

Agitators were seen hitting the building with hammers and setting it on fire.

Local government and youth and sports adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan also wrote on his account ‘Let there be festivities’.

Hasnat’s call came amid a tense situation centring an announcement on social media that now ousted prime minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina would address the country’s students and youths virtually on Wednesday evening.


Later, AL’s official Facebook page aired a live audio speech of Sheikh Hasina, now sheltered in India.

The speech was delivered at a time when the Dhanomndi residence of her father and party leaders’ residences in other places of the country came under attack.

Witnesses said that the police did not create any major obstacles to those marching towards the Dhanmondi 32 building.

A private company crane was reached at the Dhanmondi-32 and entered into the Mujib’s building at about 11:00pm.

Many of the agitators were seen chanting slogans like ‘Nara e Takbeer Allahu Akbar’, ‘Mujibbad Murdabad Inquilab Zindabad’, ‘Swairacharer Astana Bhenge Dao Guriye Dao’.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ramna Division deputy commissioner Masud Alam refused to comment on the situation when contacted.

Minutes before the attack on Dhanmondi 32 building, DMP joint commissioner for crime Md Faruk Hossain said that they had deployed additional police forces in and around the Dhanmondi 32 property, which was later turned into a museum by the past Awami League regime.

During the incident, the road in front of the building was packed with several thousand people, causing huge traffic congestion in the surrounding areas.

A large group of people, including students vandalise Bangabandhu Museum building at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka on Wednesday evening. — Star Mail photo

During the vandalising of the Dhanmondi 32 building, Sheikh Hasina’s cousin Sheikh Helal Uddin’s residence in Khulna city was also bulldozed by a mass of people and students at about 8:40pm, witnesses said.

In another incident, students and people also bulldozed the residence of AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif in Kusthia town at about 9:30pm, witnesses said.

At Dhanmondi-32, members of the Bangladesh Army were seen entering the premises at about 9:30pm but they immediately retreated as the agitators chanting slogans against them. No police personnel were seen guarding the building at the time.

People were seen taking away the bricks, doors and other materials from the vandalised property.

During the vandalism, documentaries on the July-August uprising were also screened on a large screen installed near the building by the Dhanmondi Lake.

A student-led mass uprising on August 5, 2024 toppled the authoritarian regime of Sheikh Hasina who fled to India on the day.

The same evening, Dhanmondi 32 building was vandalised and set on fire by student-mass protesters.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ran his political activities from the Dhanmondi-32 residence that was damaged during the War of Independence in 1971 and was later repaired.

The building was listed as a national heritage in 2009 by the Rajdhani Unnyan Kartipakkha.

In Rajshahi, several hundred students broke down the nameplates of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall, Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Hall, under-construction Sheikh Hasina Hall and Shahid AHM Kamaruzzaman Hall and Sheikh Russel Model School on the Rajshahi University campus between 9:30pm and 11:00pm on Wednesday, New Age staff correspondent in Rajshahi reported.

The Student Against Discrimination in Chattogram brought out a torch procession at Jamal Khan crossing demanding trial of Awami League and its allies on Wednesday night, New Age staff correspondent in Chattogram reported.

They vandalised and set fire to Sheikh Mujubur Rahman’s mural on a wall before passing near Gani Bakery area.

Meanwhile, about 9:40pm, they also vandalised the Mujib’s mural near Chattogram Medical College Hospital’s main gate, chanting anti-AL slogans in presence of police.

On Wednesday night, protesters also vandalised Mujib murals in Khulna University.​

 

[Saif]

Dhanmondi 32 demolition still ongoing

As of 10:00pm, protesters were seen taking apart bricks and rods of the the house using sledgehammers

www.thedailystar.net

Dhanmondi 32 demolition still ongoing

Photo: Naimur Rahman

The demolition of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Dhanmondi 32 residence is still ongoing with dozens of protesters seen manually dismantling the building.

As of 10:00pm, protesters were seen taking apart bricks and rods of the the house using sledgehammers.

In an adjacent building, a fire was seen on the top floor.

In the afternoon, the protesters slaughtered a cow and preparation for a feast began by the night.

Photo: Naimur Rahman

Using loudspeakers, protesters demanded justice for all the injustices committed by the Awami League during its 15-year rule, including the execution of Jamaat leaders.

Earlier, the excavators, which were brought in last night, left the scene by 10:30am.

Then the protesters started demolishing the building behind Bangabandhu's residence, which housed an art gallery and was an extension of the museum.​

 

[Saif]

More AL leaders' houses smashed, torched

Following the destruction and torching of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's house on Dhanmondi-32 last night protesters in Noakhali, Rajshahi, Narayanganj, Cumilla and Pabna demolished murals and busts of Sheikh Mujib and houses of Awami League leaders today

www.thedailystar.net

More AL leaders' houses smashed, torched

Lawyers stand and watch as a labourer tears down a mural at Narayanganj Judge Court. Photo: Star

Following the destruction and torching of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's house on Dhanmondi-32 last night protesters in Noakhali, Rajshahi, Narayanganj, Cumilla and Pabna demolished murals and busts of Sheikh Mujib and houses of Awami League leaders today.

NOAKHALI

The house of Obaidul Quader, general secretary of Awami League and former road, transport and bridges minister, was attacked, vandalised and torched in Companiganj today.

The protesters carried out the arson at the house in Bora Rajapur Mohalla area under ward-1 of Basurhat municipality around 1:00pm.

At this time, the two-storey building, tin-shed room and tin-shed kitchen of Quader's younger brother Abdul Quader Mirza, the president of Companiganj upazila unit of Awami League, and Shahadat Mirza, former mayor of Basurhat municipality, were also vandalised. A water tank and a car in front of the house were also set on fire.

No one was at home during the time of the attack.

RAJSHAHI

A group of protesters set fire to the house of Shahriar Alam, former state minister for Ministry of Foreign Affairs, today.

Protesters set fire to Shahriar's three-storey house in Chaksinga Mohalla of Arani Municipality in Bagha Upazila around noon.

Witnesses said that over 100 angry people coming on motorbikes from Bagha and Charghat upazilas gathered in front of the house and set it on fire.

ASM Asaduzzaman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Bagha police station, said that the protesters set the house on fire.

Later, the fire service reached the spot and put out the fire around 2:00pm.

He added that a training centre for BGMEA, a garment manufacturing and export company owned by Shahriar in Sataripara village, was vandalised and set on fire.

NARAYANGANJ

Pro-BNP lawyers vandalised murals and a bust of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Narayanganj Judge Court, the Deputy Commissioner's Office, and the Superintendent of Police's Office in Narayanganj city today.

Construction workers were called in and instructed to demolish these installations using hammers and crowbars.

Lawyers Sakhawat Hossain Khan, convener of BNP's Narayanganj city unit, and Abu Al Yusuf Khan Tipu, member secretary, led the demolition.

Abul Kalam Azad Zakir, public prosecutor of the judge court and a pro-BNP lawyer, was also present at the time.

Speaking to journalists, Advocate Sakhawat Hossain Khan said that, "The Awami League has desecrated the sacred judiciary by using these images of Sheikh Mujib. These murals were tools for politicising the administration. A revolution has taken place in Bangladesh, and now there is a neutral government. Hence, the administration must remain impartial. To prevent future political contamination of the judiciary and administration, Narayanganj's ordinary lawyers have removed these images. We want a fascism-free Narayanganj."

"Yesterday, the people demolished Sheikh Mujib's house at 32 Dhanmondi. In continuation, we are tearing down murals and images of Sheikh Mujib. This has been a longstanding demand of Narayanganj residents. We will remove every symbol and memory of the Awami League and Sheikh Mujib wherever they exist," Abu Al Yusuf Khan Tipu added.

BNP leaders also announced plans to demolish the ancestral home of former AL MP Shamim Osman in Chashara, known as Baitul Aman, in the afternoon.

Later, they vandalised his grandfather's house in Chashara in the evening.

When contacted, Narayanganj's Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mia told The Daily Star, "I left for a programme in Araihazar early in the morning. I was there during the incident and am not fully aware of the details. We will take necessary actions after gathering information about this."

CUMILLA

Protesters demolished two murals of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Cumilla city today.

They brought a excavator around 4:00pm to the Cumilla Judge Court premises and demolished a mural set up in front of the district sessions judge building.

After the demolition, Rashedul Haque, secretary of Student Movement Against Discrimination of Cumilla city unit addressing the people present said, "We will demolish all the signs of fascism."

Later, at the Cumilla City Park, another mural of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was demolished using an excavator.

PABNA

Protesters also vandalised and torched the house of AL leader Abu Sayeed in Shalgaria village of Pabna Sadar upazila this evening.

They tore down the gate, vandalised the house and then set fire to it.

Abu Sayeed, vice president of Pabna Sadar upazila AL and also former chairman of Varara Union Parishad, was a key accused over the attack on protesters during the anti-discrimination student movement on August 4 last year that left two students dead and many injured.

Sayeed has been in hiding since the incident.

Agitating students earlier had brought out a protest rally demanding exemplary punishment of Sayeed.

JAMALPUR

The residence of Awami League organising secretary and former state minister Mirza Azam in Jamalpur town was vandalised and set on fire this evening.

According to witnesses, a bulldozer arrived in the afternoon and began demolishing the main gate and boundary wall of Azam's two-story house. Later, a group of protesters stormed the premises, vandalised the property, and set it on fire.​

 

[Saif]

Dhanmondi 32 house ripped apart

Protesters last night torched and tore down parts of the Dhanmondi-32 residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, after calls in social media for demolishing what they said was a “pilgrimage site of fascism”.

www.thedailystar.net

Dhanmondi 32 house ripped apart
Protesters torch Sudha Sadan too

Onlookers gather in front of Dhanmondi-32 residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which protesters torched and tore down last night. Photo: Amran Hossain

Protesters last night torched and tore down parts of the Dhanmondi-32 residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, after calls in social media for demolishing what they said was a "pilgrimage site of fascism".

An event titled "Bulldozer Procession" was scheduled for 9:00pm, timed to coincide with an online programme where deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina was slated to speak. The virtual event was announced by the now-banned Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League.

However, hundreds of protesters stormed the building and began taking it apart with shovels and hammers around 8:00pm, an hour before the planned procession. A mural of Mujib was also wrecked, witnesses said.

An excavator tears down the Dhanmondi-32 residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman while it is still on fire around 1:30am today. Photo: Prabir Das

By around 9:30pm, the building was set on fire. A little before midnight, at least one crane and one excavator reached the spot, and by the time this report was filed around 2:00am today, parts of the building were razed to the ground.

According to some social media posts, the protest was in response to "Hasina's anti-Bangladesh activities from Delhi," where she fled on August 5.

At the scene, protesters chanted various slogans such as "Fashi Fashi Fashi Chai, Sheikh Hasinar Fashi Chai (Hang, hang, hang -- Sheikh Hasina must be hanged!); Sara Banglae Khobor De, Mujibbader Kobor De (Let all of Bangladesh know—let's bury Mujibism!); Awami League-er Pretatta, Bangladeshe Thakbe Na (There will be no place for Awami League's ghosts in Bangladesh!); Delhi Na Dhaka? Dhaka, Dhaka (Delhi or Dhaka? Dhaka, Dhaka!); and Inquilab Zindabad (Long live revolution!)"

One protester demanded that the AL be banned. "Awami League won't be allowed to participate in any election in Bangladesh," he said.

Law enforcers were seen nearby the spot since the beginning. At around 12:40pm, police took position in front of Metro Shopping Mall, yards away from the scene. No firefighters reached the spot as of midnight.

Army personnel went to the spot around 9:30pm, and took position on the main street. Later, they left the area, witnesses said.

"We don't want to keep the memory of any murderer in Bangladesh. Today, we stand against all the murderers … We don't need any security forces here," one protester told this correspondent.

Home Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam and Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner SM Sazzat Ali did not respond when this paper tried to reach them.

Meanwhile, protesters also set fire to Sudha Sadan, the Dhanmondi residence of Hasina's late husband and nuclear scientist MA Wazed Miah, around 11:00pm.

Fire service duty officer Rakibul Hasan said they received reports that the Sudha Sadan was set ablaze around 11:30pm.

"We have also received reports of the arson at Dhanmondi 32. We are acting according to the situation," he said.

Earlier around 7:30pm, The Daily Star spoke to Masud Alam, deputy commissioner (Ramna Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police about the security situation centring on the planned procession. He said they had no knowledge of any plan for attack on Dhanmondi 32.

DMP Additional Commissioner SN Nazrul Islam too said they were unaware of the "Bulldozer Procession".

The announcement of Hasina's virtual address came on Tuesday, and the calls for demolishing the Dhanmondi-32 residence soon followed in social media.

One poster, shared in a Facebook group named "Basherkella" around 3:00pm, shows a bulldozer in front of Mujib's portrait at Dhanmondi 32. Similar posters have been widely shared across Facebook pages.

"All activists and coordinators have agreed to tear down the house number 32. A massive showdown is expected today [yesterday]. Everyone, bring your bulldozers and join in," Ratul Mohammad, spokesperson for a platform called People's Activists Coalition (PAC), wrote in his Facebook page around 4:00pm.

An hour before, July Revolutionary Alliance from its Facebook page made the similar calls.

Later in the evening, Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Students Against Discrimination, wrote in his Facebook, "Tonight, Bangladesh will be freed from the grip of fascism."

Paris-based vlogger Pinaki Bhattacharya also made a similar call in his Facebook page. He urged everyone to head to Dhanmondi 32 and finish it off this time.

Earlier in the day, Hasnat Abdullah warned media outlets against broadcasting Hasina's speech, saying it would amount to promoting her agenda.

"Even now, we see hesitation in naming the real perpetrators. Some media outlets still refer to her as a former prime minister. Is she just a former leader or is she the Butcher of this Motherland?" Hasnat told a press conference at the office of the Students Against Discrimination in the capital's Bangla Motor.

Jatiya Nagorik Committee and the Students Against Discrimination arranged the press conference regarding the launch of a public opinion campaign titled "New Bangladesh Through Your Eyes".

Hasnat said, "She [Hasina] killed 2,000 people to cling to power. Yet, the media does not call her a fascist murderer. If you fail to do so, you are still keeping the pro-Awami media spirit alive.

"If any media outlet broadcasts Hasina's speech, it will be assumed that they are still promoting her and have taken a stance against the aspirations of the people."​