Sheikh Hasina Condemns Destruction of Father's Historic House as Attempt to Erase Bangladesh's Liberation Legacy

Dhanmondi 32, the historic residence of Bangladesh's founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was vandalized on February 5.

New Delhi:

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, currently residing in New Delhi, has expressed her belief that the destruction of her father's residence at Dhanmondi 32 represents an attempt to eradicate the spirit of Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War.

In an exclusive interview with NDTV's Aditya Raj Kaul, Sheikh Hasina reflected on her father's legacy, stating, "The destruction of my father's historic residence was a barbaric attempt to erase the legacy of our hard-fought battle for independence from Bangladesh's history. Those in power want to eradicate the spirit of our Liberation War. This is an absolute insult to the memories of those who gave their lives for our future."

Despite these events, Hasina expressed confidence in the people of Bangladesh, maintaining they will never allow her father's legacy to fade.

"This legacy lies not in places or physical objects, but in the values, they embodied: democracy, equality, secularism and economic emancipation. These cannot be extinguished from Bangladesh's soul," she remarked.

On the night of February 5, a large group of protesters vandalized and set fire to Dhanmondi 32 following a social media call for a 'bulldozer procession.' The incident occurred as Hasina delivered a speech resisting the current government.

After the attack, Hasina shared an emotional message with her supporters, declaring that while her opponents might destroy the structure, they cannot erase her family's history.

"Why do they fear a house? We live for those memories of Dhanmondi... Last time they set this house on fire, now they are destroying it. Have I not done anything for this country? Then why such disrespect?" she questioned during a virtual audio address on her Awami League party's Facebook account.

Visibly emotional, Hasina continued, "The only memory that both my sister and I have clung to is being wiped out... I want to ask my people who is behind this. I want justice... A structure can be erased, but history cannot be wiped out."

Hasina's father and several family members were assassinated during a military coup in August 1975. Hasina and her sister survived the tragedy as they were in Europe at the time. Upon returning to Bangladesh in 1981, Hasina prevented the house from being auctioned and donated the ancestral property to a trust. The residence was subsequently transformed into the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, honoring Sheikh Mujib, who was affectionately known as "Bangabandhu" or "Friend of Bengal."

The Dhanmondi 32 property was previously set ablaze on August 5 last year when Hasina's nearly 16-year Awami League government was overthrown, prompting her and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana to secretly leave Bangladesh for India on a Bangladesh Air Force flight.