Lawlessness is not justified, says Human Rights Watch on recent vandalisation of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's house in Dhaka

"Bangladesh, which has a history of political violence, should not spiral once again into deadly abuses," wrote Meenakshi Ganguly, Deputy Asia Director of Huma Rights Watch.

She further wrote: "The Yunus government should propose a consensus resolution at the upcoming United Nations Human Rights Council session in March to request technical assistance, further investigations, and monitoring and reporting by UN-backed human rights experts."

"The resolution should also acknowledge the tyranny of the previous administration and recognize positive human rights steps taken by the interim government," Ganguly said.

 She said Bangladeshis should support a United Nations-backed mechanism that can help secure a democratic future instead of succumbing to a cycle of violence and revenge.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's residence set on fire

This comes a day after a mob vandalised and set ablaze the residence of Bangladesh's founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka on Wednesday.

The vandalization took place after Hasina appealed to Awami League workers in a virtual address to protest against the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.

On Wednesday, protesters arrived at the Dhanmondi 32 area with bulldozers and threatened to raze the house.

However, they decided against demolishing the house and instead broke the main gate, as well as vandalised it before setting fire to the property, The Dhaka Tribune reported.

The attackers said the house was a symbol of "authoritarianism and fascism" and vowed to remove traces of what they called 'Mujibism' in the country.

While carrying out the attack, the mob chanted slogans and demanded the execution of Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India on August 5 last year after massive anti-government protests.

Ahead of the planned protest by the Awami League, several supporters and workers of the party were arrested.

Vandalism spreads

Far away from Dhaka, houses of Awami League leaders were attacked and torched, and murals and busts of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were destroyed or defaced across the country on Thursday.