India, Bangladesh spar after mob razes Sheikh Mujibur Rahman house

DHAKA: Diplomatic tensions between Dhaka and New Delhi escalated once again as Bangladesh summoned acting Indian high commissioner Pawan Badhe Thursday to lodge a formal protest over ousted PM Sheikh Hasina's "fabricated and provocative" comments made on Wednesday.

Hasina, who fled to India after the violent regime change in Aug last year, gave an online speech on Facebook Live - she accused Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser of the interim govt, of seizing power by "walking over dead bodies" - after a mob torched and demolished the once-revered residence-turned-memorial dedicated to the country's founder and her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

In its protest note to Badhe, Bangladesh foreign ministry expressed "deep concern, disappointment and serious reservations", noting Hasina's "hostile" statements weren't conducive to fostering healthy Dhaka-Delhi ties.

India "strongly condemned" the razing of Mujib's memorial, calling it an "act of vandalism". MEA said, "All those who value the freedom struggle that nurtured the 'Bangla' identity and pride are aware of the importance of this residence for the national consciousness of Bangladesh."

Bangladesh’s ministry of foreign affairs has urged India to take immediate and appropriate action, in the spirit of mutual respect and understanding, to prevent Hasina from making “false and incendiary” statements via social media and other communication channels while in India.

Dhaka added that Hasina’s statements — she said, “They can demolish abuilding, but not the history... but they must also remember that history takes its revenge” — amounted to “hostile acts” against Bangladesh and accused her of “inciting instability” in the country.

Foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain told reporters, “We will observe what steps India takes.”

On Wednesday evening, protesters gathered in front of Mujib’s residence in Dhanmondi area of Dhaka, which had been turned into a memorial. Mujibur Rah man, his wife and three brothers were assassinated in the house in Aug 1975. The rally was prompted by a social media call for a “bulldozer procession” ahead of Hasina’s scheduled virtual address from exile in India.

The mob set the memorial house on fire, and similar incidents of arson were reported across the country. The building in the adjacent plot, which had housed offices of several Awami League outfits, was also demolished. Protesters also vandalised murals of Mujibur Rahman, while the residence of Hasina’s late husband, Wajed Mian, also located in Dhanmondi, was set afire by the demonstrators.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Nationalist Party, in an unusual show of unity, condemned the demolition, asserting that these actions are aimed at “destroying democracy” and could lead to chaos, impeding the country’s future democratic progress.


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