Sacrilegious and Foolish to demolish the Bangabandhu museum

Dhanmandi No 32 house demolished with bulldozer on Wednesday night. Photo collected

Bangladesh has, apparently, or is on the verge of, losing its mind through engaging in pathetic mindless destructive activities.

Where is the glory or victory to be had for anyone razing to the ground the Bangabandhu Museum or the home of the deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina?

I am neither a Bangabandhu or Sheikh Hasina admirer nor Awami League member/supporter.  I’m a patriot and I want what’s best for Bangladesh not outrageous behaviour.

Both pre-mentioned properties are public-owned, bought and paid for out of Bangladeshi paid taxes. How incredibly stupid and ridiculous is it to willfully damage your own property whether it is in a fit of rage, revenge. or just stupidity?

Furthermore, the Bangabandhu Museum was a great tourist attraction and benefited the nation. It gave employment and brought-in heaps of revenue and was a “must-see” for anyone who had wanted to know more about the history of Bangladesh and touch relics of our historic past.

Now all of its staff are out of jobs and no doubt will be seeking other means to support their families, after they awaken from the nightmare that just befell them.

Furthermore, what thought was given to the priceless irreplaceable items “on loan” by noble members of the Freedom Fighters fraternity and their families?

Was there a mission to redeem and save these valuable artifacts prior to the bulldozers moving in and the building set ablaze? I fear not. That would have required intelligence, commonsense, discipline and a patriotic love for Bangladesh.

The Bangabandhu museum was a window to the soul of the nation.

Since August 5, 2024, when the government of Sheikh Hasina was booted out of power, there have been many incredulous incidents of mindless damage done to images, murals and busts of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Just in one day alone countless were demolished or defaced in nearly two- dozen districts. Why?

What had he done wrong to deserve such disrespect? To the best of my knowledge, nothing! It’s been a grave injustice. Since when has Bangladesh hung people knowing them to be innocent?

How could Bangabandhu be held responsible for his daughter’s alleged misdemeanors? He wasn’t even alive when his daughter became Prime Minister for the first time!

Isn’t that akin to someone having a bad day at work and then going home in anger, frustration, and rage and kicking the dog or the wife? It makes no sense.

What has happened should NEVER have happened.  There is no justification for lawlessness, violence, and willful damage to public property. One wonders who’s behind the lawless evil… and why?

This free-for-all mindless mob behaviour must stop before it totally gets out of control and leads to somthing much worse.

Although the Bangabandhu Museum and Sheikh Hasina’s home incident only happened a few days ago, give thought to the number of homeless people who have since gazed upon the debris and rubble and wished in their hearts that the buildings had been converted and provided a roof over their heads instead.

Enough is enough of this insanity. What has happened is sacrilegious and doesn’t speak favorably for those responsible and tarnishes the notion that Bangladesh is an upwardly mobile civilized nation.

Prof. Ali Rohid

<prof.ali.rohid2025@outlook.com>