Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Historic Dhaka Residence Razed; India Calls It ‘Regrettable’

GG News Bureau
Dhaka, 7th Feb. In a shocking act of vandalism, a mob demolished the iconic residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi-32 in Dhaka on February 5, following a social media call for a ‘bulldozer procession.’ The house, deeply tied to Bangladesh’s history, had witnessed two pivotal moments—the country’s liberation in 1971 and the tragic assassination of Sheikh Mujib and his family in 1975.

Sheikh Hasina, Mujib’s daughter and Bangladesh’s ousted prime minister, expressed deep anguish over the destruction in an emotional audio address. “A structure can be erased, but history cannot be wiped out,” she said, appearing in tears. Hasina has been living in India since her ouster in August last year.

India Condemns Vandalism
India, acknowledging its historical connection to the residence, condemned the act as “regrettable.” The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated, “Those who value the freedom struggle that nurtured Bangla identity and pride are aware of the importance of the residence for the national consciousness of Bangladesh.”

The house was central to Bangladesh’s independence struggle and became the site of a daring rescue mission by Indian officer Major Ashok Tara in December 1971. Despite threats from Pakistani troops guarding the house, he convinced them to release Mujib’s wife and three children, including Hasina, who were being held captive.

The 1975 Tragedy
Dhanmondi-32 once again made global headlines in 1975 when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 18 members of his family were assassinated in a military coup. Hasina and her sister, Sheikh Rehana, survived as they were in Europe at the time. They later took asylum in India before Hasina’s return to Bangladesh in 1981.

After reclaiming the property from an auction attempt, Hasina handed it over to the Bangabandhu Memorial Trust, which converted it into the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum.

With the house now demolished, Bangladesh’s political landscape faces further turmoil, and India’s strong reaction signals the broader regional implications of this act.