Bangladesh: Muhammad Yunus calls on all citizens to restore full law and order

Dhaka: According to a statement released on Friday by the Chief Adviser’s press wing, Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus urged all citizens to promptly restore total law and order and to make sure that no more attacks on properties belonging to Sheikh Hasina’s family or Awami League politicians will occur against any citizen under any pretext.

The comment was made three days after Sheikh Hasina, the ousted prime minister, destroyed the Dhaka home of Bangladesh’s founder, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, on February 5 during a live internet speech.

After bursting through the gate, the demonstrators, who were allegedly calling for the Awami League to be banned, assaulted the building and left extensive damage in their wake.

According to the press release, “The anger of the activists who have attacked properties is understandable because they and their relatives and friends lived through years of tyranny under Hasina.”

“The government understands the activists’ sense of outrage,” added the statement, “that even from her refuge in New Delhi, Hasina continues to try to mobilize her militants to hamper Bangladesh’s recovery from her years of abuse.”

India denounced the vandalism of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh, and his home in Dhaka on Thursday, a day after the incident, calling it “regrettable.”

In a statement, Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said, “It is unfortunate that the historic residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, a symbol of the brave resistance of the people of Bangladesh against the forces of occupation and oppression, was destroyed on February 5, 2025.”

“The significance of this dwelling for Bangladesh’s national consciousness is understood by everyone who cherishes the independence fight that fostered Bangla identity and pride. “We strongly condemn this act of vandalism,” he said.

However, Yunus also underlined how crucial it is to uphold the rule of law, saying that this is what sets the new Bangladesh apart from the one that existed during Hasina’s administration. He exhorted people to focus their energies on constructive, nonviolent initiatives that promote constructive change.

“In spite of this knowledge, the government urges people to follow the law in order to demonstrate to the rest of the world that we are a country that values the rule of law. The new Bangladesh that we are all fighting to create differs from the previous one under the fascist dictatorship in that it upholds the rule of law. Any disrespect for the law puts people’s lives and property in jeopardy; therefore, let’s not jeopardize Bangladeshis’ feeling of security and stability,” it said.

In his remarks, Yunus also exhorted the people who toppled the Hasina administration in July and August to be dedicated to the values of human and civil rights.

“For the citizens who rose up and overthrew the Hasina regime in July and August to realize their dreams for the country, it is imperative to prove to ourselves and our friends around the world that our commitment to our principles—respecting one another’s civil and human rights and acting under the law—is unshakable,” said the statement.

“Champions of a just new Bangladesh must never act in ways that could support any perceived equivalence, however unjust, between the behavior of today’s institutions and those of the ousted autocrats,” it said.

“This requirement is recognized by our security forces. To maintain law and order and safeguard the lives and property of all Bangladeshis, the government is collaborating with the nation’s security services. Law enforcement will take swift, severe action against anybody attempting to cause turmoil and anarchy, which clearly includes destroying property, if there is any effort to destabilize the nation by provocative acts of any type. According to the statement, “The government will bring the responsible individuals and groups to justice.”

“The leaders of the fascist regime have left the country in complete ruins,” the Chief Adviser’s press wing claimed, highlighting Hasina’s rule. As long as we stay vigilant and maintain our moral superiority, they will have no chance of returning.”

“They utilize any assaults on their properties as a pretext to spread their false narratives and get attention from across the world. They are now being tried for crimes against humanity. The whole globe is on our side. The statement went on to say that any decline in law and order would send the incorrect impression to the globe.

The advisor also exhorted people to concentrate on constructive and nonviolent endeavors to aid in the advancement of the nation.

“The Chief Adviser calls on all citizens to materialize our dream of building a country where all Bangladeshis can live in security and dignity, to act with self-discipline and to channel their energy into productive, peaceful efforts to support positive changes,” added the statement.

The Dhanmondi 32 mansion has previously been the subject of an attack. Demonstrators had damaged the home earlier on August 5 as well, destroying it and burning pieces of it.

Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister of Bangladesh, was overthrown by a student-led movement in August of last year after weeks of demonstrations and fighting that claimed over 600 lives. A provisional administration headed by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus was established when Hasina, 76, fled to India.