The storied history of Dhanmondi 32, Mujibur Rahman’s Dhaka house now burnt down by ultra Islamists

Dhanmondi 32, the famous house-turned-museum in Dhaka, had a special place in Bangladesh’s politics. It served as founding father Mujibur Rahman’s house and was the centre of all his political activities until he died in 1975. But now, it has been reduced to ruins after vandals set fire to it and then destroyed it with hammers and shovels

People watch as others take away the metals and electric wirings from Dhanmondi 32, the vandalised residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh's former leader and the father of the country's ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. AP

August 5, 2024, marked a turning point in Bangladesh’s political landscape, as students’ protests led to the downfall and eventual ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. On that day, her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s house, Dhanmondi 32, was attacked, vandalised, and set on fire by angry mobs.

Now, almost six months later, the historic house at Dhaka’s Dhanmondi 32 has once again been attacked; this time, vandals set fire to the structure and even destroyed parts of it using hammers and shovels. Later, an excavator and crane were pressed into service to tear the building down.

Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India, delivered a message later in response to the vandalism. In a slightly choked voice, the former Bangladeshi PM said, “They can demolish a building, but not the history… but they must also remember that history takes its revenge.”

House which became Mujibur Rahman’s home

History says that Mujibur Rahman’s move to Dhanmondi 32 is thanks to his wife, Fazilatunnesa Mujib. To escape the harassment and distress of finding homes, she decided that they should build their own home and for this reason, she took out money from her savings and got loans from relatives. A Dhaka Tribune report states that some money was also taken from the House Building Finance Corporation as a loan to construct this house.

Finally, in October 1961, Mujibur Rahman and his family shifted to the house at Dhanmondi 32, after only three rooms of it had been built.

As the years passed, the house expanded. It also became integral to Bangladesh’s history; becoming the centre of the struggle for the independence of Bangladesh. It was in the sitting room of this very house that he met with visitors day after day to discuss the future of Bangladesh and the path of freedom for the country.

In 1962, Dhanmondi 32 served as Mujibur Rahman’s headquarters as he led a resistance to Pakistan’s then ruler General Ayub Khan. It was also from this very location that he put forth the famous Six-Point Proposal of the Awami League, demanding autonomy for East Pakistan.

Through it all, Mujibur Rahman called Dhanmondi 32 his home. As the website of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum reads, “The house was the centre of all of Bangabandhu’s political activities, including planning activities, exchanging views with leaders and activists, and listening to the grievances of the people”.

An Indian Express report states that it was at the conference table of Dhanmondi 32 that Mujibur Rahman drafted the historic March 7, 1971, speech, which is seen as the informal declaration of independence from Pakistan.

The museum website further adds that after the Liberation War, when Mujibur Rahman, who was also referred to as ‘Bangabandhu’ served as the president of an independent Bangladesh, he used Dhanmondi 32 as a base of operations to make decisions on running the government.

Mujibur Rahman’s killing at Dhanmondi 32

On August 15, 1975, Dhanmondi 32 also served as the backdrop for the cruel and brutal killing of Mujibur Rahman and his family at the hands of a group of military officers. The only two who survived the massacre were his daughters — Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana.

As the Daily Star reports, in the dark hours of August 15, while Mujibur, his wife Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, his sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell, daughters-in-law, and his brother Sheikh Naser slept, tanks rolled down the streets and came to a stop outside the gates of Dhanmondi 32.

Mujibur Rahman’s personal assistant AFM Mohitul Islam was on night duty at the residence that fateful night. Suddenly the phone rang, and he sleepily picked up the receiver. “Serniabat’s [Bangabandhu’s brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat] house is under attack!

But when Mohitul Islam was unable to get in touch with the police over the phone, Bangabandhu came down to the office room and just then a barrage of bullets shattered the windowpanes and hit the wall of the office room.

In the following hours, Mujibur Rahman, his wife and all family members were gunned down.

From home to museum

In 1981, when Sheikh Hasina returned to Bangladesh, she wasn’t allowed inside this house. She even received an auction notice. She paid 12,000 taka to save it from being auctioned off. On June 10, 1981, as per a Daily Sun report, she announced her decision to transform Dhanmondi 32 into a museum.

US Secretary of State John Kerry looking down the stairs at Dhanmondi 32 where Mujibur Rahman was gunned down. Image Courtesy: US State Department

And after a long wait, on August 14, 1994, the house was inaugurated as the “Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum”. Later, a new building was built behind the main house to house the library, research centre and seminar rooms.

At the entrance of the museum, visitors were welcomed with a portrait of Bangabandhu with a poem - “Jotokal robe Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Gauri bohoman, totokal robe kirti tomar Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” which means “As long as the rivers Padma, Meghna, Jamuna and Gauri continue to flow, the legend of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will remain alive amidst the hearts of the people.”

The museum also houses memories of his assassination — blood stains on the windows, and a painting of bullet-riddled Bangabandhu. Bangabandhu’s son Sheikh Russel’s bloodstained T-shirt, and his sports equipment, were also displayed.