Sunday, 5th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 23rd February 2026, 12:38 AM
A wave of curiosity and political intrigue has swept through the southwestern district of Jhenaidah following the reappearance of portraits of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The images, placed within the skeletal remains of a abandoned Awami League office, have gone viral on social media, marking a rare public display of partisan loyalty since the dramatic political transition of 2024.
Late on Saturday night, coinciding with the early hours of Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day (21 February), members of the district’s Awami League and its affiliate organisations shared photographs of the makeshift shrine. The images depict the portraits adorned with fresh floral garlands, positioned prominently against the charred and crumbling walls of the former party headquarters.
Amio Majumdar, the former President of the Jhenaidah Municipal Volunteer League (Swechasebak League), confirmed the act was intentional. He stated that in the first hour of 21 February, a group of dedicated activists gathered at the abandoned site near the Shilpakala Academy to pay their respects and reaffirm their presence.
The office in question stands as a stark monument to the unrest of the previous year. During the mass uprising in August 2024, the building became a primary target for protesters. The following timeline outlines the systematic dismantling of the facility:
| Date | Event | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 4 August 2024 | Height of Mass Uprising | Protesters set the building on fire. |
| 5 August 2024 | Fall of the Government | Extensive vandalism; looting of furniture and AC units. |
| Late 2024 | Period of Neglect | Scavenging of doors and windows; site became a public nuisance. |
| 21 February 2026 | Language Martyrs’ Day | Re-entry by activists; installation of floral-garlanded portraits. |
Since the fall of the previous administration, the building had remained a hollow shell. Reports suggest the site had been stripped of all utility, with local miscreants even using the unsheltered space as a public latrine. For over a year, it was regarded as a “no-go zone” for party faithful.
The decision to return to this specific location to hang portraits is viewed by local analysts as a tactical move to test the waters of the current political climate. While the local administration has yet to issue a formal response to the incident, the act has ignited fierce debate online between supporters of the old guard and those who champion the new political order.
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