Scores of students forcibly entered the residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi 32 in the capital and carried out a rampage on Wednesday night, following a declaration to 'liberate country from fascism' announced by Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
Hasnat made the declaration on social media post at 6.00 PM. Later, when the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina commenced a virtual speech addressing the students, the protestors got provoked and started the long march to demolish Bangabandhu residence around 8.00 PM.
Eye-witnesses reported that people from different areas gathered, chanting slogans before breaking through the gate and storming inside. Protesters spread throughout the premises, causing destruction.
Hasnat Abdullah made his statement in a post from his verified Facebook account at 6:30 PM, writing, �Tonight, Bangladesh will be freed from the land of fascism.�
The previous night, the verified Facebook page of the banned organization Chhatra League announced that Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India, would address students virtually on Wednesday night.
Responding to this announcement, several social media users called for a �bulldozer march� toward Dhanmondi 32 if Sheikh Hasina proceeded with her speech. However, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement did not issue an official statement regarding this matter.
Earlier on Wednesday, at a press conference at the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement's office in Bangla motor, Hasnat Abdullah stated, �Sheikh Hasina is the butcher of Bangladesh. She and her students wing Chhatra League are no longer relevant in this country. If any media outlet broadcasts her speech, it will be considered as aiding her.�
During a Q&A session at the press conference, Hasnat Abdullah further remarked, �After August 5, the chapter of Sheikh Hasina and Chhatra League is closed. If they were patriots , they wouldn�t have fled on August 5.�
Addressing the media, he criticized news outlets for their portrayal of Sheikh Hasina, stating, �The media still hesitates to call her out. They still refer to her as the �former Prime Minister.� Is she just a former PM, or the �butcher of this motherland�? She is the butcher of Bangladesh. She killed 2,000 people to stay in power. Why doesn�t the media call her the fascist killer Hasina? If you refuse to do so, you are promoting the legacy of the Awami fascism in the media.�
