Protesters set fire to ex-Bangladesh PM's family home

Protesters in Bangladesh have vandalized and set fire to the former family home of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, along with the residences of other members of her political party.

The unrest was triggered by the news that Hasina would address the nation via social media from India, where she has been in exile since student-led protests ousted her last year.

The 77-year-old Hasina, who ruled Bangladesh for 20 years, was often criticized as an autocrat for her harsh crackdown on dissent.

On Wednesday evening, an excavator demolished the house of Hasina's late father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh's founding president. The building had been converted into a museum. While Mujibur is widely regarded as a hero of independence, Hasina's critics have tainted his legacy due to her rule.

In a Facebook livestream, Hasina condemned the attack and called for "justice," stating, "They can demolish a building, but they can't erase history."

Once celebrated as a pro-democracy icon, Hasina's reputation has soured during her time in office. She has faced accusations of election rigging, jailing political opponents, and overseeing a corrupt administration.

Hasina is also facing arrest warrants for her role in the brutal crackdown on student-led protests last year, which resulted in hundreds of deaths. Despite fleeing to India in August, anger toward Hasina and her Awami League party remains strong.

On Wednesday, protesters also vandalised and torched the houses and businesses of senior Awami League leaders. There have been calls on social media to rid the country of "pilgrimage sites of fascism".

Police told the BBC's Bengali service that around 700 protesters showed up at the residence on Wednesday night, and dozens of police officers were deployed.

Since Hasina's ouster, a caretaker government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has kept the country running.

But it has struggled to quell lingering unrest. Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets in recent months, demanding Hasina to be prosecuted for her deadly crackdown on student protesters.

While Yunus' government tries to get Hasina extradited from India, it is also dealing with a looming economic crisis - Yunus has accused Hasina of faking Bangladesh's economic growth and laundering billions of dollars during her rule.

Yunus has pledged to hold elections in late 2025 or early 2026.