Sunday, 16 March, 2025
Ashraf Ali, 65, a retired government official, travelled from his Rampura residence to Dhanmondi on Thursday to witness the demolition of the historic Dhanmondi 32 house—once home to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, where he led the political movements that birthed Bangladesh.
The destruction began with the controversial ‘Bulldozer March’ six months after Sheikh Hasina fled to India. On Wednesday night, a crane and two excavators were deployed to tear down the structure. By Thursday, looters were seen ransacking the remains, and on Friday, individuals continued gathering construction materials—some for resale, others as keepsakes.
The ‘Bulldozer March’ was organised by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in response to Sheikh Hasina’s online speech from India. The march soon spread across the country, with agitated crowds vandalising the luxurious homes of Awami League leaders, sparking mixed criticism both domestically and internationally.
The incident harked back to the tragic events of August 15, 1975, when no one came to recover the body of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman—a fact frequently highlighted by his daughter, the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024, following a student-led mass movement against her more than 15 years of autocratic rule, widespread corruption, and the brutal oppression of the opposition, which led to the deaths of many innocent people at the hands of her special forces.
“History doesn’t forgive any misdeed. History is watching, and the next generations will not forgive us for inaction,” said Rehana Akhter, a 58-year-old Dhanmondi resident, as he witnessed the demolition of the historic house on that fateful night.
However, Ashraf Ali’s perspective was strikingly different. Quoting Karl Marx, he remarked, “History repeats itself, first as tragedy, then as farce.” Standing near his Rampura residence on Friday, he reflected on the eerie repetition of history.
"For Bangladesh," he explained, "tragedy first struck on August 15, 1975, when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated in this very house by a group of soldiers. Now, on August 5, 2024, history has turned into a farce—after Sheikh Hasina fled to India, abandoning her political allies in the wake of a student-led mass movement."
“History repeats itself, first as tragedy, then as farce.”
“The people themselves have now demolished the house. No one intervened to stop them,” Ali observed, posing a critical question: What lies ahead for the nation?
As the country grapples with political uncertainty, city dwellers are also struggling under the weight of skyrocketing commodity prices and a tense pre-election climate, Ali noted.
On his way back from Dhanmondi, Ali met with an accident near the Kakrail-Mouchak road when his rickshaw was struck by a speeding auto-rickshaw—one of many banned vehicles still dominating Dhaka’s congested, crumbling roads.
“The law and order situation remains fragile. The city’s roads are a death trap, and development work has been stalled for too long,” Ali lamented.
As Bangladesh stands at a turning point, questions loom large: Will reform follow, or will the cycle of chaos continue?
However, the economic toll of the unrest cannot be overstated. Bangladesh’s once-thriving garment sector—responsible for more than 80% of export earnings—has suffered major disruptions. Supply chain bottlenecks, declining international orders, and labour unrest have further exacerbated the crisis.
Other key industries, including agriculture, ICT, and small businesses, are also reeling under the weight of political instability. The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has warned of severe fiscal challenges, citing a mere 3.7% increase in revenue collection during the early months of FY25.
The Chief Adviser Dr Mohammad Yunus has already urged the students to stop the vandalization of homes of AL leaders and remain calm to restore peace in the society and implement the reform measures peacefully and quickly.
The Home Ministry has decided to start a countrywide crackdown - "Operation Devil Hunt" from Saturday to bring culprits to book and maintain law and order. The decision was taken on Friday night in a joint meeting of the law enforcement agencies following Friday's terror attack on the student-people in Gazipur district.
But the concerns persist. Leading political parties push for immediate elections, while the interim government, led by Dr Muhammad Yunus, insists on completing key reforms before heading to the polls.
However, the release of the reform commissions' full report today is expected to outline immediate, mid-term, and post-election strategies. Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul confirmed that these recommendations will be shared with all political parties and forces supporting the July mass uprising.
As political parties push for a credible election amid the ongoing crisis, Bangladesh’s economy faces the risk of further contraction unless a clear resolution to the deadlock is reached. With a young and dynamic population, the country stands at a pivotal moment where urgent reforms and political stability are crucial for securing long-term economic growth.
Prolonged unrest will only make it more challenging to achieve sustainable development and strengthen Bangladesh’s position in the global economy.
Comments
Ashraf Ali, 65, a retired government official, travelled from his Rampura residence to Dhanmondi on Thursday to witness the demolition of the historic Dhanmondi 32 house—once home to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, where he led the political movements that birthed Bangladesh.
The destruction began with the controversial ‘Bulldozer March’ six months after Sheikh Hasina fled to India. On Wednesday night, a crane and two excavators were deployed to tear down the structure. By Thursday, looters were seen ransacking the remains, and on Friday, individuals continued gathering construction materials—some for resale, others as keepsakes.
The ‘Bulldozer March’ was organised by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in response to Sheikh Hasina’s online speech from India. The march soon spread across the country, with agitated crowds vandalising the luxurious homes of Awami League leaders, sparking mixed criticism both domestically and internationally.
The incident harked back to the tragic events of August 15, 1975, when no one came to recover the body of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman—a fact frequently highlighted by his daughter, the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024, following a student-led mass movement against her more than 15 years of autocratic rule, widespread corruption, and the brutal oppression of the opposition, which led to the deaths of many innocent people at the hands of her special forces.
“History doesn’t forgive any misdeed. History is watching, and the next generations will not forgive us for inaction,” said Rehana Akhter, a 58-year-old Dhanmondi resident, as he witnessed the demolition of the historic house on that fateful night.
However, Ashraf Ali’s perspective was strikingly different. Quoting Karl Marx, he remarked, “History repeats itself, first as tragedy, then as farce.” Standing near his Rampura residence on Friday, he reflected on the eerie repetition of history.
"For Bangladesh," he explained, "tragedy first struck on August 15, 1975, when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated in this very house by a group of soldiers. Now, on August 5, 2024, history has turned into a farce—after Sheikh Hasina fled to India, abandoning her political allies in the wake of a student-led mass movement."
“History repeats itself, first as tragedy, then as farce.”
“The people themselves have now demolished the house. No one intervened to stop them,” Ali observed, posing a critical question: What lies ahead for the nation?
As the country grapples with political uncertainty, city dwellers are also struggling under the weight of skyrocketing commodity prices and a tense pre-election climate, Ali noted.
On his way back from Dhanmondi, Ali met with an accident near the Kakrail-Mouchak road when his rickshaw was struck by a speeding auto-rickshaw—one of many banned vehicles still dominating Dhaka’s congested, crumbling roads.
“The law and order situation remains fragile. The city’s roads are a death trap, and development work has been stalled for too long,” Ali lamented.
As Bangladesh stands at a turning point, questions loom large: Will reform follow, or will the cycle of chaos continue?
However, the economic toll of the unrest cannot be overstated. Bangladesh’s once-thriving garment sector—responsible for more than 80% of export earnings—has suffered major disruptions. Supply chain bottlenecks, declining international orders, and labour unrest have further exacerbated the crisis.
Other key industries, including agriculture, ICT, and small businesses, are also reeling under the weight of political instability. The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has warned of severe fiscal challenges, citing a mere 3.7% increase in revenue collection during the early months of FY25.
The Chief Adviser Dr Mohammad Yunus has already urged the students to stop the vandalization of homes of AL leaders and remain calm to restore peace in the society and implement the reform measures peacefully and quickly.
The Home Ministry has decided to start a countrywide crackdown - "Operation Devil Hunt" from Saturday to bring culprits to book and maintain law and order. The decision was taken on Friday night in a joint meeting of the law enforcement agencies following Friday's terror attack on the student-people in Gazipur district.
But the concerns persist. Leading political parties push for immediate elections, while the interim government, led by Dr Muhammad Yunus, insists on completing key reforms before heading to the polls.
However, the release of the reform commissions' full report today is expected to outline immediate, mid-term, and post-election strategies. Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul confirmed that these recommendations will be shared with all political parties and forces supporting the July mass uprising.
As political parties push for a credible election amid the ongoing crisis, Bangladesh’s economy faces the risk of further contraction unless a clear resolution to the deadlock is reached. With a young and dynamic population, the country stands at a pivotal moment where urgent reforms and political stability are crucial for securing long-term economic growth.
Prolonged unrest will only make it more challenging to achieve sustainable development and strengthen Bangladesh’s position in the global economy.
Comments
