On Thursday, India voiced its deep distress over the vandalism of the residence of Bangladesh’s founding leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. India firmly denounced the incident, calling it an “act of vandalism.”

While addressing media inquiries about the attack on Rahman’s residence, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “It is regrettable that the historic residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a symbol of the heroic resistance of the people of Bangladesh against the forces of occupation and oppression, was destroyed on February 5, 2025.”

Jaiswal also underscored the significance of the residence, stating, “All those who value the freedom struggle that nurtured Bangla identity and pride are aware of the importance of this residence for the national consciousness of Bangladesh. This act of vandalism should be strongly condemned.”

The Ministry of External Affairs stressed profound concern about the attack, emphasising the historical and cultural value of the residence. India has demanded that those responsible be held accountable, highlighting the importance of preserving regional peace and stability.

On Wednesday, a mob attacked and vandalised Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s residence in Dhaka, according to the Dhaka Tribune. Footage from the scene showed flames rising from one of the house's floors. The protesters, reportedly calling for a ban on the Awami League, broke through the main gate and stormed the premises, causing extensive destruction.

Local media attributed the protest to an online speech by Bangladesh’s current Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina. Before the incident, social media posts had circulated, urging people to march in a “Bulldozer Procession” towards the Dhanmondi-32 residence if Sheikh Hasina went ahead with her speech.

By 10:45 p.m. local time, an excavator was brought to the site to demolish the house. The protesters gathered around 8 p.m. and forced their way inside by breaking the main gate. Once inside, they carried out large-scale vandalism, with reports stating that several individuals used hammers, crowbars, and wooden planks to climb to the second floor, where they destroyed portraits of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and inflicted severe damage on parts of the historic residence.

On Thursday, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally protested to the Indian government, strongly condemning what it described as “false and fabricated” remarks made by its former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, across various platforms, including social media. The Bangladesh government voiced its concerns, disappointment, and serious objections to these statements, alleging they were intended to create instability.

In a protest note delivered to the Acting High Commissioner of India in Dhaka, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry asserted that these remarks were offensive to the sentiments of the Bangladeshi people. The ministry further stressed that Sheikh Hasina’s actions were viewed as hostile towards Bangladesh and challenged efforts to foster a positive relationship between the two nations.