Protesters destroy Sheikh Hasina's family home amid unrest in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, thousands of protesters have vandalized and demolished the family home of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, which had become a symbol of both the country's independence and her alleged authoritarian rule. The unrest was ignited by Hasina's planned address to supporters from exile in India, where she has been since fleeing during a student-led uprising against her 15-year tenure. Protesters accused Hasina of suppressing dissent and warned they would 'bulldoze' the building if she proceeded with her speech, which they believed would initiate a new wave of protests by her Awami League party. As Hasina began her speech, demonstrators stormed the house, using heavy machinery to dismantle it while she condemned the actions, stating that they could not erase the history of Bangladesh's independence. This attack marks a significant escalation in the ongoing unrest against Hasina and her party, with widespread calls to dismantle what critics describe as 'pilgrimage sites of fascism.' The violence reflects deep divisions within the country and growing resistance to Hasina's legacy, even as a caretaker government currently oversees affairs in Bangladesh.