Here's all about Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, whose statue has been vandalised by protesters in Bangladesh
Bangladesh has descended into turmoil as broad demonstrations against the administration have escalated in recent days. On Monday, the scenario took a startling shift as a band of protesters destroyed a statue honoring Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the esteemed pioneer of the country.?
This move came after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's abrupt resignation and her abrupt exit from the country, leaving Bangladesh in a position of political instability.
The unrest started with protests by students but soon expanded into a broader opposition against the government. Fierce battles broke out on Sunday, leading to almost 100 fatalities, and the violence continued to rise on Monday.?
Protesters invaded Dhaka Palace, flooding the streets in large numbers, and ultimately dismantled the statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman—a video of which has been widely shared online, causing widespread anger on social media.
In another widely circulated video, a protester can be seen lying on a bed in Hasina's home. In the background, other protesters can be heard smashing furniture in the room.In some videos, protesters are seen stealing furniture, carpets and even saris from the former prime minister's residence.?
Yet another video shows the moment a?mob?of protesters stormed?Hasina's?residence,?shortly after she fled?to?India in a military?helicopter.
All you need to know about Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, born on 17 March 1920 in Tungipara, is a figure with deep roots in the history of Bangladesh. He entered politics early in his student life and became a prominent leader of the Awami League, a party that fought for the rights of Bengalis in Pakistan.?
Mujib played a major role in the Bengali language movement in the early 1950s and later led the Six-Point Movement in 1966, demanding greater autonomy for East Pakistan, now Bangladesh.
The 1970 general election saw a landslide victory for Mujib's Awami League, but the Pakistani government's reluctance to cede power caused widespread unrest. On 7 March 1971, Mujib delivered a historic speech in Dhaka, calling for Bangladesh's independence, a call that led to the devastating Liberation War and the eventual birth of Bangladesh on 16 December 1971.
After the country gained independence, Mujib became first president and later served as prime minister. His efforts focused on rebuilding a war-torn nation, but his leadership met a tragic end when he was assassinated on August 15, 1975, along with most of his family, in a coup.?
Despite his untimely death, Mujib's legacy as "Father of the Nation" lives on in Bangladesh, commemorated with holidays and monuments.
Who is Sheikh Hasina?
Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has been a prominent figure in Bangladeshi politics for decades. She served as Prime Minister from June 1996 to July 2001, and then from January 2009 until her resignation in August 2024. Hasina's tenure made her the longest-serving Prime Minister in the country's history, with nearly three decades in power over four terms.
In the late 1960s, while studying at the University of Dhaka, Hasina became active in politics and acted as a liaison for her father during his detention by the Pakistani government.
During the 1971 Liberation War, she and her family faced detention, but in August 1975, tragedy struck when her father, mother, and three brothers were assassinated in a military coup. Hasina was abroad at the time and survived, spending the next six years in exile.
Upon returning to Bangladesh in 1981, Hasina was elected to lead the Awami League, the party her father had founded. She became a vocal advocate for democracy, enduring multiple house arrests and leading opposition efforts against military rule. In December 1990, her pressure on the military regime led to the resignation of Lieutenant General Hussain Mohammad Ershad, marking the end of military rule in Bangladesh.
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As Prime Minister, Hasina’s first term was marked by economic growth and efforts to reduce poverty, although political instability continued to plague the country. She lost power in 2001 but returned to office in 2008 after a political crisis. Her subsequent terms were marred by accusations of electoral fraud and human rights concerns, though she also gained international praise for her humanitarian efforts, particularly in 2017 when she provided refuge to nearly a million Rohingya fleeing violence in Myanmar.
Recent protests in Bangladesh
The recent unrest in Bangladesh, sparked by student protests against the government job quota system, has brought Hasina’s rule to an abrupt and dramatic end, plunging the country into a new period of uncertainty.
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More than 100 people have been killed in protests against the Hasina government over the past two days.The country has been the scene of violent protests against a controversial quota system that reserved 30% of jobs for families of veterans who fought in the 1971 liberation war.?
?Bangladesh army chief Waqar-uz-. Zaman announced earlier on Monday that Hasina had resigned and an interim government was taking control of the country.
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