A fire has been set at the house of Awami League Presidium Member Sheikh Selim in Dhaka Banani.
The fire was set around 1:30 am on Friday, but due to a lack of police protection, the Fire Service was delayed and was not able to reach the scene until 2:45 AM.
Unruly crowds set the fire at Selim residence in Banani. Security concerns prevented the Fire Service vehicles from accessing the site immediately, Fire Service control room duty officer told UNB.
Earlier on Wednesday night, students and other protestors vandalised and set fire to the residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi-32. The attackers used a bulldozer to reduce most of the building to rubble. Similar acts of vandalism and arson were also reported at the homes and offices of other Awami League leaders across the country.
In a midnight statement on Thursday (6 February), the interim government warned that any attempt to destabilise the country through vandalism and arson would be met with swift and strict law enforcement action.
India has said the act of vandalism at the historic residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman should be "strongly condemned.”
"It is regrettable that the historic residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, a symbol of the heroic resistance of the people of Bangladesh against the forces of occupation and oppression, was destroyed on February 5," said Spokesperson at the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday.
All those who value the freedom struggle that nurtured Bangla identity and pride are aware of the importance of this residence for the national consciousness of Bangladesh, he said.
Terming the vandalism at Dhanmondi-32 residence as unfortunate and unexpected, the interim government said it was manifestation of people anger incited by the "provocative remarks" made by fugitive Sheikh Hasina from India against the July uprising.
The interim government, in a statement on Thursday, urged India to ensure that its territory is not used to promote instability in Bangladesh and prevent Sheikh Hasina from issuing further remarks.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh lodged a strong protest with the government of India over the "false and fabricated comments and statements" continuously being made in different platforms, including social media by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, conveying the neighbouring country that these activities are "instigating instability" in Bangladesh.
Protesters set fire to Dhanmondi-32 house again at around 12:30 pm today (Thursday) following the demolition of the main building.
The fire quickly spread to the adjacent building on the right, prompting urgent evacuation efforts as the flames continued to engulf the collapsed structure.
Meanwhile, demonstrators gathered beneath the site, chanting slogans such as “Naraye Takbir,” “Chi Chi Hasina, lojjay bachi na,” and “Delhi na Dhaka, Dhaka, Dhaka.”
Meanwhile the crowd continued to demolish the remaining parts of the historic house at Dhanmondi-32 in Dhaka following a night of vandalism and attack on it.
The demolition began at around 11:30pm on Wednesday, nearly two and a half hours after the house was set on fire around 9pm.
Witnesses said an angry mob gathered at the site, chanting slogans against the Awami League and its leader deposed ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
A UNB correspondent visiting the scene saw people dismantling parts of the structure and collecting bricks, doors, and windows. Some in the crowd vowed to remain at the site until the house was completely destroyed.
Tensions escalated when two individuals, including a middle aged woman, were reportedly beaten after they chanted "Joy Bangla," the protesters claimed.
Despite calls from Awami League leaders and activists on social media to protect the building, no organised resistance was visible on the ground. Locals also refrained from commenting on the matter.
The house, which was turned into a museum, came under arson attack on August 5 last year following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government.
As of Thursday noon, the right section of the building was nearing full demolition, while the rest was being dismantled by protesters using tools. Burnt debris from the fire remained scattered throughout the premises.
The situation remained volatile, with no law enforcement agencies present to prevent possible accidents or further destruction. The gathering continued to swell as more people joined in, watching or participating in the demolition efforts.
Many in the crowd reiterated their determination to stay at the site until the house was completely torn down.
Terming the vandalism at Dhanmondi-32 residence as unfortunate and unexpected, the interim government has said it was manifestation of people anger incited by the "provocative remarks" made by fugitive Sheikh Hasina from India against the July uprising.
For the past six months, no attacks or incidents of destruction had taken place at the historic residence and tensions escalated following Sheikh Hasina provocative statements which offended those who sacrificed their lives during the July uprising, the Chief Adviser press wing said in a statement on Thursday.
Her remarks had two key aspects—first, she disrespected the martyrs of the uprising by making derogatory and unfounded claims about their deaths and second, despite fleeing the country in the wake of the uprising, she has continued to issue threats and warnings in a tone reminiscent of her tenure in power, said the statement.