United News of Bangladesh

Multiple protests and simultaneous road blockades in front of the Jatiya Press Club and adjoining areas of the capital on Sunday morning caused severe traffic congestion on several key routes, leaving officegoers and commuters stranded for hours and bringing parts of Dhaka to a standstill. Several groups, including the Ibtedayi Madrasa Teachers’ Unity Council, teachers of schools for students with disabilities demanding MPO enlistment and recognition, and representatives of recognised but non-MPO institutions, staged sit-in demonstrations near the Press Club. At the same time, unemployed disabled graduates and non-cadre candidates from the 43rd BCS blocked adjacent roads demanding government jobs, worsening the situation further. Traffic congestion escalates in Narayanganj city due to rules violation As a result, traffic movement slowed to a crawl in major areas such as Shahbagh, Press Club, Paltan, and Motijheel. Commuters and officegoers faced extreme difficulties amid the prolonged gridlock. Despite the disruptions, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said it has been making continuous efforts to keep traffic moving under the challenging circumstances. In a press release, the DMP expressed deep regret for the unexpected congestion and the suffering caused to the public.  “Temporary traffic jams have occurred in some parts of the city due to ongoing protest activities. Our traffic police are working tirelessly to restore normalcy, and we seek the cooperation of the public in this regard,” the release added. Read more: How to Get Traffic Updates in Dhaka: Useful Apps and Sources

The residence of Sheikh Hasina, Sudha Sadan, located on Road 5 in Dhanmondi, was set on fire by protesters late last night. The incident occurred at 11:00 pm on January 5 (Wednesday night), following the ongoing political unrest. Since the ousting of the Hasina government during the student uprising on August 5, Sudha Sadan had been completely vacated. Fire Service officials reported that the fire at the residence was discovered around 11:30 pm, and their teams were dispatched to control the blaze. Dhanmondi 32 residence being demolished with bulldozer By midnight, flames were visible on the second, third, and fourth floors of the building. Meanwhile, demolition work by protesters was also underway at House No. 32 in Dhanmondi, with bulldozers starting to demolish the property at 11:30 pm. Earlier in the evening, around 9:00 pm, a fire had been set on the third floor of the building. At 10:30 pm, a crane was brought to the site, followed by another bulldozer. As the crowd gathered, some climbed onto the crane, cheering, and chanting slogans such as "Demolish Sheikh Mujib's house, destroy it!" Many protesters also called for Sheikh Hasina's execution. The incident occurred on the six-month anniversary of Sheikh Hasina’s departure from the country, following her ousting in a mass movement. “Sheikh Bari” in Khulna vandalised, set on fire By 8:00 pm, large numbers of people had gathered in front of House No. 32. As the crowd swelled, they broke down the gates and began rioting inside. Armed with sticks and spades, many joined the destruction. Students and online activists involved in the uprising had announced that the attack on the house would coincide with Sheikh Hasina’s scheduled speech. But the ransacking began earlier, at around 8:00 pm, when the protesters breached the building. Sheikh Mujib's mural demolished in Sylhet Earlier in the evening, Hassanat Abdullah, an organiser of the anti-discrimination student movement, posted on Facebook, saying, "Tonight, the birthplace of fascism in Bangladesh will be liberated." Following the student uprising in July, which led to the fall of the Awami League government, House No. 32 was attacked and set on fire by angry protesters on August 5.