Sheikh Hasina, the former Bangladesh PM who was ousted from power following countrywide protests, lashed out saying, "history cannot be wiped out." Hasina's comments have come after hundreds of protestors burnt her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's house in Dhaka. Hasina is reported to have made the remarks in the speech posted on her party's social media accounts.
History takes its revenge: Sheikh Hasina
Hasina, who sounded emotional, can be heard saying in the speech posted on Facebook, "I seek justice from the people of Bangladesh. Have I not done anything for my country?" She stressed, "A structure can be erased, but history cannot be wiped out," as she added, "They must also remember that history takes its revenge."
Earlier on Wednesday, thousands of protestors destroyed Sheikh Hasina's family home that apparently symbolised Bangladesh's independence.
The attack is reported to be sparked by a speech Hasina planned to give to supporters from exile in neighbouring India, where she fled last year during a deadly student-led uprising against her 15-year rule.
The house in question belonged to Hasina's late father and Bangladesh's independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who had declared the country's formal separation from Pakistan in 1971. He was assassinated in 1971 in that home, which Hasina turned into a museum.
Protestors threaten to 'bulldoze' building
On Wednesday, protesters even threatened to “bulldoze” the building if Hasina went ahead with her speech, which marked the start of a month-long protest program by her Awami League political party. Notably, the former PM's party is trying to gain support amid allegations of attacks on its members and other Hasina backers.
The mural of Mujibur Rahman and his wife Fazilatunnesa Mujib at the Chuadanga deputy commissioner's office was demolished around 12:15 am on Thursday, the Bangla Daily reported.
In Bhairab, Kishoreganj, the protesters vandalised the mural of Mujib at the upazila Awami League office and at the upazila parishad last night.
The student movement earlier promised to scrap Bangladesh’s 1972 Constitution as they promised to bury the “Mujibist constitution” while some far-right groups also suggested a change of the national anthem adopted by Mujib-led post-independence government.
(With inputs from agencies)
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