How hooliganism takes Bangladesh to brink – Firstpost

The political landscape of Bangladesh has always been tumultuous, but recent events have thrown fuel on the fire, escalating the crisis to an unprecedented level. The country has witnessed a disturbing rise in intolerance and impatience, manifested in violent protests and the destruction of historically significant landmarks. Speculation is also growing that the United States played an active role in destabilising Bangladesh, with some analysts pointing to diplomatic pressure and behind-the-scenes manoeuvring that may have contributed to Sheikh Hasina’s downfall.

Former State Department official Mike Benz has suggested that Washington’s strategy of “soft regime change” was at play, leveraging civil society organisations, digital activism, and economic tools to weaken Hasina’s hold on power. While the US has denied direct involvement, leaked reports suggest backchannel discussions aimed at supporting opposition forces in the months leading up to her ouster.

On February 6, 2025, a large group of protesters vandalised and set fire to the residence of Bangladesh’s founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, during a live online address by his daughter, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister.

Witnesses reported that thousands of protesters gathered in front of the house in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area, which had been transformed into the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum. The demonstration, initially planned as a “Bulldozer Procession” through social media calls, coincided with Hasina’s scheduled address at 9 pm (BST). The protest quickly devolved into chaos, with the demonstrators vandalising the site, setting fire to the building, and desecrating a mural of Sheikh Mujib.

This act of arson was a dagger to the heart, given the historical significance of the residence. It was from this house that Mujib led Bangladesh’s autonomy movement before the country’s independence in 1971. For decades, it served as a place of national pride, welcoming foreign dignitaries and symbolising the nation’s struggle for freedom. The fact that, even during the Pakistani occupation, in 1971, the house was looted but not destroyed makes its recent destruction a bitter pill to swallow. Sheikh Hasina’s address was organised by the Awami League’s now-disbanded student wing, Chhatra League.

During her speech, she called upon the countrymen to resist the current regime, expressing her defiance against the authorities led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, whose government was installed by the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement. Hasina’s speech was filled with both sorrow and a plea for justice:

“They are yet to have the strength to destroy the national flag, the constitution, and the independence that we earned at the cost of millions of martyrs. They can demolish a building, but not history … but they must also remember that history takes its revenge.”

Hasina’s words reflect a deeper concern about the systematic erasure of her father’s legacy. The Anti-Discrimination Students Movement, which played a crucial role in toppling her government last year, has been vocal about its intent to scrap the 1972 Constitution and replace what they call the “Mujibist constitution”. The Dhanmondi residence had already been targeted on August 5 last year, the same day Hasina’s 16-year-long rule came crashing down.

Following massive student-led protests, Hasina secretly fled to India along with her younger sister, Sheikh Rehana, on a Bangladesh Air Force flight. Since then, she has been residing in India, as the new regime in Bangladesh, led by Yunus, tightens its grip. In her speech, Hasina reminisced about her family’s struggles and sacrifices, highlighting the emotional and symbolic significance of their ancestral home. The house had been donated to a trust and converted into a public museum to honour Sheikh Mujib’s contributions.

However, that historical reverence did not stop the protesters from reducing it to ashes, an act that underscores the deepening political intolerance in Bangladesh. The violent protests and the targeted attack on symbols of national history reflect a growing culture of political impatience in Bangladesh. The intolerance between opposing factions has eroded any semblance of democratic discourse, leaving the nation stuck between a rock and a hard place. The fact that army troops attempting to de-escalate the situation were met with boos shows the public’s growing disillusionment with state institutions.

Social media has played a critical role in stirring the pot. The call for a “Bulldozer Procession” spread like wildfire online, reflecting how technology is being used to amplify political grievances. A key organiser of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Abdul Hannan Masud, even called for demolishing all residences belonging to former Awami League MPs and ministers, suggesting new buildings be constructed on those sites. Such radical rhetoric signals a dangerous shift towards vindictive politics, where erasing political opponents is prioritised over governance.

Earlier in the day, the convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Hasnat Abdullah, warned media outlets against broadcasting Hasina’s speech, stating that doing so would be seen as carrying water for her agenda. This direct suppression of free speech and press freedom is yet another indication that Bangladesh is skating on thin ice under the new regime. Hasina, however, maintained that ordinary students were being used as pawns in Yunus’s orchestrated attempt to seize state power. She urged them to return to their studies and focus on building a better future rather than getting caught in the crossfire of political games.

Meanwhile, Homeadvisor Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury stated that the interim government is making all efforts to extradite Hasina and other former officials from India under the existing extradition treaty. Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has also issued arrest warrants for Hasina and several former cabinet members on charges of “crimes against humanity and genocide”.

The legitimacy of these charges, however, remains highly contested, especially given the abrupt shift in political power. The current trajectory of Bangladesh’s politics raises critical questions about the nation’s future. The destruction of Sheikh Mujib’s residence is more than just an act of vandalism—it is a symbolic rejection of the old guard and an assertion of a new, radicalised political order. The intolerance displayed by both sides has deepened national divisions, making reconciliation as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack.

Bangladesh now stands at a crossroads. If the current trend of political impatience and authoritarian tendencies continues, the nation risks going down the drain. Even minorities, such as Hindus, are bearing the brunt of rising violence and discrimination in Bangladesh. Their rights are under threat, and they face violence daily under the new regime. A social media user put it aptly on X by saying, Since August, there have been reports of more than 2,000 violent incidents in Bangladesh, mostly targeting the Hindu community. We must always stand firmly against anti-Hindu violence and support freedom of religion for all in Bangladesh.

The suppression of opposition voices, the destruction of historical symbols, and the deepening divide between ideological factions all point to a troubling path ahead. Whether Bangladesh can weather the storm and restore democratic values remains uncertain, but one thing is clear—the spirit of intolerance is shaping the country’s future in ways that may be impossible to reverse.

Tehmeena Rizvi is a public policy professional and is pursuing a PhD from Bennett University. Her areas of work include Women, Peace, and Security, focusing on the intersection of Conflict, Muslim Women, and Religion. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.