Razed Dhanmondi 32, Dhaka, The Heart of Bangladesh

Assault on Bangladesh by Anti-Bangladesh Forces

From the 5th to the 7th of February, 2025, Bangladesh endured an abominable assault upon its very essence by bulldozers and excavators—a malefic assault on Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka, the sacred edifice that embodies the indomitable spirit of the nation’s struggle for independence. This attack was not the impetuous outburst of a mob but a meticulously crafted, politically charged maneuver aimed at severing the profound bond between the nation and its historical legacy. The annihilation of this iconic landmark constitutes a blatant affront to the ideals of freedom and sovereignty upon which this nation was born—ideals for which countless lives were sacrificed in the tumultuous year of 1971.

Such an attack raises unsettling and profound questions regarding the true nature of power in Bangladesh today. Who truly holds the reins of authority in this moment of crisis? What dark forces, driven by malicious intent, are at work to distort the national narrative and undermine the very foundation of Bangladesh’s identity? The orchestrated nature of this violence is beyond dispute—this was no spontaneous uprising of student unrest but a deliberate, coordinated strike intended to erode the nation’s commitment to secularism, democracy, and the ideals upon which it was founded. All signs point to the active or tacit approval of the puppet government, led by Waker-Yunus and supported by the American deep state and their vilest pals, whose shadows loom ominously over the nation's future.

The Historic Significance of Dhanmondi 32

Dhanmondi 32 is not merely a structure of brick and mortar; it is the very heart of Bangladesh’s struggle for freedom. In this house, in the year 1966, the Six-Point Movement was birthed, catalyzing East Pakistan's quest for autonomy. Amidst the oppressive darkness of General Ayub Khan’s regime, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation, transformed this residence into a bastion of resistance against foreign dominion. Here, within these hallowed walls, strategies were devised that would eventually lead to Bangladesh’s liberation. The house resounded with the echoes of Mujib’s legendary speech of March 7, 1971, and it was his residence until his arrest later that month. It was in this very home, on January 10, 1972, that Mujib returned to a victorious Bangladesh after the War of Liberation, cementing its status as a living monument to the birth of the nation.

Yet, the tragedy of Dhanmondi 32 did not end with the war. On the dark morning of August 15, 1975, some renegade military officers stormed this sacred abode, assassinating Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib and most of his family. The house was seized by the forces of tyranny, and for years, the military junta sought to obliterate its historical significance, preventing Sheikh Mujib’s daughter, Sheikh Hasina, from reclaiming the family home. Only after years of tireless struggle did Hasina secure the house in 1994, transforming it into a national museum—a sanctum where future generations could touch the pulse of the nation’s fight for freedom.

An Act of Destruction

The reports of the assault on Dhanmondi 32 from February 5-7, 2025, reveal that it was far from the spontaneous wrath of a disillusioned populace. Anti-Bangladesh elements such as Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, and Sharif Osman Hadi of the Inquilab Mancha openly incited violence against the residence. Abdullah’s inflammatory social media post declaring, "Tonight, Bangladesh will be freed from fascism," crystallizes the premeditated nature of the attack. Further confirmation of the calculated nature of this assault comes from Masood Sayedee, a terrible Pakistani seed and the son of convicted war criminal Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, who repeatedly called for the destruction of the house. These provocative remarks, coupled with the actions of others such as Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain and Pinaki Bhattacharya, who organized the attack, leave no doubt that this was a politically motivated strike, intended to destabilize the very core of Bangladesh’s sovereignty.

This was no chaotic act of mob violence; it was a surgical strike, aimed at obliterating the memory of Bangladesh’s hard-won independence. The scale of the violence, the coordinated participation of extremist leaders, and the inexplicable failure of state security forces—most notably the Bangladesh army—to intervene, raise troubling questions of complicity within the government. Was the interim administration under Dr. Muhammad Yunus incapable of stopping this assault, or was it, perhaps, complicit in this national tragedy?

The Crisis Within the Interim Government

The failure of the interim government to act decisively has exacerbated the crisis. This passive response undermines public confidence and raises troubling doubts regarding the government’s commitment to justice and the preservation of the nation’s heritage. While some within the administration have called for swift action, the lack of meaningful response betrays either an unwillingness or an inability to confront the forces of extremism that threaten Bangladesh’s democratic institutions.

A Broader Campaign of Destruction

The assault on Dhanmondi 32 is but one chapter in a broader, insidious campaign to erase the symbols of Bangladesh’s independence and rewrite its history with grunges. Across the land, murals of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib, have been defaced, the homes of Awami League leaders across the country have been burned, and emblems of the nation's secular spirit have been destroyed. These acts represent not merely an attack on political opposition, but a direct challenge to the foundational values upon which the nation was conceived in the crucible of 1971.

In this time of darkness, Sheikh Hasina, the exiled daughter of Sheikh Mujib, addressed the nation in a poignant live-streamed speech. Her voice, trembling with emotion, declared: "They may demolish a building, but they cannot erase history." At the age of 77, Hasina remains a towering figure in Bangladeshi politics, but the attack on Dhanmondi 32 transcends party allegiance—it is an assault on the very soul of the nation. It is a direct attack on the freedom and dignity for which her father, and countless others, gave their lives in 1971 and 1975.

The International Response

The international community has responded with widespread condemnation. India, in particular, was swift to denounce the attack, emphasizing the deep historical significance of Dhanmondi 32. The United States echoed these concerns, calling for the protection of human rights and the preservation of democratic freedoms within Bangladesh. Intellectuals and activists from across the globe, from North America to Europe, have condemned the attack, decrying it as a dark day for the nation's democracy and an attempt to rewrite its history with malicious intent.

As Bangladesh stands at this crossroads, the world watches closely. The choices made by the interim government in the coming days will determine whether the nation’s historical legacy is preserved or erased by those bent on rewriting its past. The struggle for Bangladesh’s soul is not confined to its borders; it is a battle for the very ideals of sovereignty and freedom that define the nation’s existence. The actions of those responsible for this destruction will not go unchallenged and will face the full measure of justice.

The Critical Choice Ahead

Bangladesh now stands at a moment of reckoning. Will its leaders now in power and its corridor rise to defend the nation’s historical legacy and ensure justice is served, or will they allow these dark forces to rewrite the narrative of Bangladesh’s independence with grimes? The outcome of this struggle will not only determine the future of Bangladesh but also the broader trajectory of democracy in the region. The world cannot afford to remain silent in the face of this rising tide of extremism and revisionism. This is not merely a test for Bangladesh; it is a test for the global community—a test of our collective commitment to the values of freedom, justice, and human dignity. The time to act is now, for if Bangladesh’s sovereignty and identity are eroded, the consequences will resonate far beyond its borders.

Dhanmondi 32 is more than a mere address. It is the very soul of Bangladesh, the birthplace of its sovereignty and the eternal anchor of its identity. The house that once sheltered the dreams of a nation now stands as its living legacy, a symbol of resilience, of sacrifice, and of the unbreakable bond between a people and the land they fought to call their own.

Written By: Anwar A. Khan

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