Anisur Rahman: Vandalising Bangabandhu Museum is act of terrorism

In early February 2025, Bangladesh witnessed an unprecedented wave of violence targeting historical sites, political figures, and minority communities. The most shocking act was the destruction of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhaka, the former home of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh and a key figure in the country’s 1971 Liberation War against Pakistan. This attack, along with other coordinated acts of vandalism, has raised concerns about the trajectory of Bangladesh’s political landscape.

The violence follows the collapse of the Awami League government and the rise of an interim administration led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus. The interim government’s response—or lack thereof—has sparked controversy, with accusations of state complicity in targeting symbols of Bangladesh’s secular, progressive identity. Religious fundamentalist groups and anti-government protestors have been blamed for the destruction, leading to comparisons with the Taliban and ISIS.

Bangladesh has long struggled with political instability, but recent developments suggest a shift that threatens its secular foundations. The 1971 Liberation War was fought to secure independence from Pakistan and establish a secular, democratic nation. However, Islamist factions and conservative political forces have continuously challenged this legacy, advocating for a more religiously aligned state.

As violence spreads, concerns about human rights violations, media censorship, and an emerging authoritarian trend under the interim government are growing. This interview with Bangladeshi-Swedish writer Anisur Rahman sheds light on the deeper implications of these events, the motivations behind the attacks, and the broader struggle over Bangladesh’s identity.

The attack on the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhaka

On February 5th, an attack led to the destruction of Bangabandhu’s house located at Dhanmondi-32, Dhaka, in the presence of police. Eyewitnesses indicated that a group of 500 to 1000 people gathered and started vandalizing the house. After approximately half an hour, two to three military vehicles arrived and observed the situation without intervening. The vandalism continued until February 6th, with government-owned bulldozers and machinery being used to further demolish the house. This made it clear to the people of Bangladesh that the destruction had been authorized by the current interim government.

From the evening of February 5th until February 7th, similar acts of destruction spread across Bangladesh, targeting the homes and properties of Sheikh Hasina, ministers, Awami League leaders, and their families. These attacks abruptly ended after Dr. Yunus publicly stated that such actions would not be tolerated. This raises questions as to why the government remained silent until the vandalization had been completed while suggesting that the destruction had been coordinated by the government.

I spoke to Bangladeshi-Swedish writer Anisur Rahman about these events. Here is what he said:

What do you think Bangabandhu’s home/museum was destroyed recently?

Anisur Rahman: Agitated mob demolished the residence of Bangladesh’s founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, housing the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhaka on 5 February 2025. It continued till 7 February. The law enforcing agency did not take necessary measures to save the historic museum on Bangladesh liberation war, although the rampage programme was announced previously. Let me address some questions in this connection:

Who are those culprits who destroyed the museum?

Why did they destroy this museum?

Why did the interim regime led by Muhammad Yunus fail to protect this historical sight?

Leaders and activists of several organisations including religious fundamentalist groups who are against the spirit of the secular progressive ideology of the Liberation War of Bangladesh 1971. Those elements under the banner of the anti-discrimination student movement and agitating people took part in vandalism.

The so called student organisation under the patronisation of the interim government demolished the historic building to fulfil their ill motive to remove the sign of our liberation war. They used Bulldozers to destroy this building which was the private resident house of country’s founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. His wife Fazilatunnesa Mujb built this house step by step with their family income. A private company provided the bulldozers.

The occupying Pakistani army, which killed about 3 million people in Bangladesh during the Liberation War in 1971 expressed joy after demolishing the historic building by the pro-interim government demonstrators. The Pakistani occupation forces arrested the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, at this house on March 25, 1971 and conducted genocide in the country during the Bangladesh Liberation War, which lasted for nine months. Following the collapse of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, violent people had previously attacked the house, causing destruction and setting parts of it on fire.

The agitated mob killed several hundreds of people including members of the law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh after the collapse of the Awami League government.

They also demolished various sculptures including that of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and they attacked the religious and ethnic minorities.

The demonstrating elements do not want to carry the legacy of 1971. That is why they are in need of destroying significant monumental sights of history. Given that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s house was the center of the country’s liberation movement, they targeted it.

The authorities categorically allowed as well as sponsored this vandalization. In this regard, military, police, and civil administration all must be accountable. With time all concerned will be tried if democracy is reinstalled.

Are you suggesting that these are not simple acts of vandalism, but something else?

Anisur Rahman: Yes, definitely. It is terrorism. Let me clarify: First, what do we mean by terrorism? The term ‘terrorism’ refers to the use of violence against non-combatants to achieve political or ideological aims. That is what we see in connection with the vandalism of a museum which continued for a couple of days. This scandalous disgraceful destruction is not only terrorism but also authority-sponsored terrorism.

Let me share one more fact in this regard. Bangladesh is one of the signatory countries to the 1970 UNESCO Convention on Museums. The convention aims to prohibit and prevent the illicit import, export, and transfer of ownership of cultural property and urges states parties to take measures to prohibit and prevent the illicit trafficking of cultural property. However, we witnessed during the vandalism the culprits even looted the properties of this museum.

This vandalism is similar to what ISIS did in Iraq, Syria and the Taliban do in Afghanistan. After this terror act, they hoisted the ISIS flag at the Bangabandhu museum premises on the Road No 32 in Dhaka. The Yunus-administration has not recorded any case against them. No move for investigation.

Such an event or, so to speak, such a trend is continuing in Bangladesh. What do you have to say about it? Is some sort of pattern emerging?

Anisur Rahma: Since the interim administration aims at allowing to grow as well as to continue, that is why it continues. The authorities launched a so-called controversial operation against the people called ‘Devil Hunt Operation’. Under this operation within a few days, they detained hundreds of people disregarding human and citizen rights. They simply targeted people and political individuals who are supporters of opposition political parties – for instance, the Awami League, its allies, and people who carry the spirit of the country’s Liberation War. Their goal is to dismiss the significance of the historical narratives of the Liberation War in 1971 and secular progressive liberal ideals. To replace it, they want to install their own fabricated narratives biased towards the spirit of Pakistan as well as Islamist politics and anti-woman. The authorities are committing all that they can to protect the devils in the name of ‘Devil Hunt’. Thus they are putting the country into a trap of ‘civil war’. That can help them to delay the elections that are due. That can help them to Talebanise the country.

The government of India did oppose this issue, you may have seen in the news. Any comments on that? And, about the response of Bangladesh?

Anisur Rahman: Yes, India condemned this vandalism. The Bangladesh authority undermined India’s stand by saying it as if it were a domestic issue of Bangladesh. On the other hand, Pakistan welcomed such a vandalism. It seems a reminder of 1971. Then our country witnessed two sharp polarisations. One side was in favor of independence. India was our partner of solidarity in the Independence War. On the other hand, Pakistan was an occupying force. A group of Bengali people loyal to Jamaat-e-Islam collaborated with Pakistani forces. They are popularly known as ‘rajakar’ meaning collaborator. The interim regime in principle chose the side of rajakar instead of freedom fighters.

First, it was about attacking the homes of minorities, and of people related to cinema and music, and now Bangabandhu’s house. Nobody can deny what Sheikh Mujib did for Bangladesh, despite criticisms of his governmental approaches. Or what do you think?

Anisur Rahman: Yes. They took the initiative to rewrite history as I have said before. I see they have a series of agendas to undermine all the existing sights and symbols in favor of secular progressive liberal ideals. They are not allowing feminist writer Taslima Nasrin books at the Amar Ekoshey Book Fair. Books on the liberation war and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other secular legends are not welcome at the book fair. Secular progressive publishers had difficulty participating in the book fair. Some did not take part out of fear, some were not allowed. The country’s important awards were given to controversial individuals. This regime declared war against the Spirit of Liberation of Bangladesh. Devil Hunt Operation is the latest example.

Fanatics are forcing the postponement of secular cultural arrangements. They spoiled the Lalon music festival in a different district recently. Lalon Faqir (1174-1890) is a pioneer secular Baul philosopher and musician in Bangladesh.

Why do we only see a handful of people talking about it? The absence of a discourse seems to be accepting the new normal in Bangladesh?

Anisur Rahman: The press is not free. People are on the run. Secular progressive voices are either on the run or they are hiding. The media is experiencing difficulties in terms of censorship. International media does not have the capacity to capture all that is taking place during this anti-democratic and unconstitutional Yunus regime. Political forces loyal to this administration, however, are presenting what they try to make look like balanced reaction as if they were the referee. On the other hand, the ousted Awami League exposed its utter incompetence in addressing the issues emerging day-by-day in recent months.

Dhaka’s media outlets are largely hiding the truth. They are echoing the voice of the interim administration. Witnessing such baseless journalism, I don’t know how to differentiate between ‘news editing’ and ‘news idioting’ by the press.

Bangladesh is changing rapidly. Memories of the liberation are being removed. There is a continuous effort to threaten minorities to leave the country. The Yunus-led government has largely remained silent. The local media has limited itself to coverage of events, without being critical. Such a trend is scary, but to our surprise, only a handful of people have condemned it.