The House at 32, excavator, and Thursday morning

It was Thursday (February 6) morning, 8:30 AM. The Russell Square intersection on Mirpur Road in the capital. It was just like any other day—everything appeared normal. A few rickshaws were waiting, and people were moving about as usual. Entering the Street Number 32 of Dhanmondi, on the left side near the lake, several private cars were parked in an open area. A few cars with media stickers were also noticeable. There were no law enforcement members or military personnel in sight. At first glance, it seemed like nothing had happened here the night before, nor was anything happening at that moment.

As we moved a little further west along 32 number Street, we noticed a crowd of people. There were numerous people on the footpaths on both sides of the road. Many were facing north, holding up their mobile phones. Some were taking selfies, while others were live-streaming on social media.

Getting closer, the sound of an excavator demolishing a building filled the air. The building was being torn down, sending dust and smoke swirling around. Some wood was burning, adding to the haze. People of all ages—men, women, elderly, and young—gathered around the building. Looking at their clothes and shoes, it seemed that most of them had come to Dhanmondi Lake for a walk but were now drawn in by curiosity to see how a historic building was being demolished.

The driver of the blue KOBELCO excavator is a young man. With considerable skill, he maneuvered the excavator, demolishing the building piece by piece. As the parts of the building crumbled, he carefully scooped them up like a sieve and moved them to another spot. While the two-story house was being demolished with great enthusiasm, several people on the upper floor were still pulling rods. A few others were throwing wood onto the burning fire below, causing the flames to grow even larger.

While standing on the eastern side of the building at 8:40 AM, the excavator’s arm struck the massive coconut tree. The excavator continued to hit the tree repeatedly, and it seemed like the driver intended to demolish the tree as well. After several blows, a few green coconuts likely fell from the tree. This caught the attention of curious onlookers standing on the roof of the neighboring building, who ran to get a better look. Some of the people standing below were astonished, asking in disbelief, "Will the tree be uprooted too?" It was likely beyond their imagination that even such a large coconut tree could be destructed.

How old is this tree? How many years does it take for a coconut tree to mature? Furthermore, regardless of who owns the tree, common sense dictates that no one should cut a tree unless it's absolutely necessary. This is a basic understanding that everyone generally possesses. But no. In defiance of this basic wisdom and sensibility, the huge coconut tree was indeed brought down by the excavator. As the tree slowly tilted toward the south, people hastily moved away for safety. Once the tree crashed to the ground, they rushed back to it, perhaps hoping to find some coconuts or green coconuts.

Why was this tree also destroyed? Perhaps it was because the building was being torn down, and if the government plans to build something here in the future, the tree might pose an obstacle. Or perhaps it was part of a larger effort to erase every trace of the building's history, including its memories.

Why was the building demolished, and who lived there?
This house, an integral part of Bangladesh's history, was once the residence of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. On August 15, 1975, he and his family were killed in this house. In 1981, after his eldest daughter, Sheikh Hasina, returned to the country, the house was handed over to her. She then entrusted the house to the Bangabandhu Memorial Trust with the aim of turning it into a museum. The Trust transformed the house into what is now the "Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum." The street where the house is located was originally numbered 32, though it has now been renumbered to 11. However, the house remains widely known by its original address, No. 32.

From October 1, 1961, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman began residing in this house. This house witnessed various significant events, including the anti-Ayub movement in 1962, the Six-Point Movement in 1966, the 1970 elections, and the non-cooperation movement at the beginning of 1971. Bangabandhu held meetings with political leaders from both home and abroad in this house. It was from here that he declared Bangladesh's independence in 1971. On the night of March 25, 1971, after the Pakistani military started its genocide, Bangabandhu was arrested from this very house.

Why was this house demolished? The reason is vengeance. Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of Bangabandhu, held power for a long time, clinging to the chair by relying on state forces and institutions while denying people their voting rights. She gave her party leaders and activists free rein to loot. There were numerous allegations against her. The culmination of this resentment occurred in July of last year. A section of students began a movement demanding the reform of the government job quota, which gradually turned into a call for Sheikh Hasina's downfall. On August 5, amidst a mass uprising, she was overthrown and fled to India.

On that day, for the first time, the house at 32 Dhanmondi was demolished and set on fire. On that day, all statues of Bangabandhu across the country were also destroyed. Gradually, the names of Bangabandhu and his family members were removed from institutions named after them across the country. The process of trial for Sheikh Hasina and top leaders of her party began, which is still ongoing.

However, amid this judicial process, why was the house filled with memories of Bangabandhu demolished? On the night of February 5, Wednesday, when the house was attacked for the second time, Sheikh Hasina was supposed to deliver a speech to the students of Bangladesh from New Delhi. Prior to this, warnings had been issued to the media from multiple sources, including the anti-discrimination student movement, urging them not to broadcast or report that speech. In response to that speech, a bulldozer operation was launched towards the 32 Dhanmondi house, with an announcement to demolish the house and erase it from the ground once again.

Why is the government silent?
Many assumed that, since there was no government in place on August 5, the house could not be protected that day. However, after August 8, when an interim government led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus took charge and has been in power for nearly six months, and given that both the military and police were on the ground, with significant changes made at all levels of the police force, it was expected that the government would prevent the second attack, vandalism, and arson at the house on 32 Dhanmondi. But no. No state force intervened. In fact, media reports suggest that although a hundred police officers were stationed at the intersection of Mirpur Road near 32 Dhanmondi, they did not move towards the house during the destruction. At around 7:30 PM, Deputy Commissioner Masud Alam of Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Ramna Division stated that they were unaware of any such program (Daily Star Online, February 5, 2025).

The news of this event has spread throughout the country. There has been a campaign on social media all day about it. Yet, the police claim to know nothing!

The army did reach the scene. However, videos spread on social media show that agitated people were chanting slogans at the soldiers, and eventually, the soldiers left the house at 32 Dhanmondi.

Throughout the night on Wednesday, the house was vandalized, and then excavators began the process of completely demolishing the building.

The question is, in an independent country with an established government, can a historical building be demolished by a group of frenzied people just like that? No matter who owns the house or what crimes its heirs may have committed, why should the state remain indifferent to the destruction of such a significant structure?

Sheikh Hasina and her party leaders will certainly face justice for their crimes. There are courts for justice, and even the tribunal established for the prosecution of crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War is where they are being tried. Therefore, it is preferable to wait for that judicial process. However, if the country is to be run by the demands of an enraged mob, and the way they want things done, then there is no need for government, law enforcement, or the military in such a system.

In conclusion…
It was Thursday, just before 9 AM. The demolition of the house at 32 Dhanmondi was still underway. I walked across the Dhanmondi Lake, to the other side, from where the house could be seen. Health-conscious people were walking, talking, and from this side of the lake, they could see a blue excavator making constant noise as it destroyed history. Amidst the sound of the excavator, chants of "Naraye Takbir" were occasionally heard. Therefore, through the demolition of this building, it’s not just history being destroyed but perhaps an attempt to create a new history or a new narrative of history. Ultimately, however, the lesson of history is that no one learns from it.

Amin Al Rasheed: Journalist and Writer.