Can History Be Erased This Way?

Special Correspondent

In the dead of night on Saturday, the structure of Projonmo Chottor at Shahbagh in Dhaka was bulldozed to the ground. Established during the 2013 Gonojagoron Mancha movement, this square had become a nationwide symbol of the spirit of the Liberation War, the demand for war crimes trials, and democratic values. However, under Dr. Yunus’s administration, the destruction of this historic site is being viewed as a brutal attempt to erase the nation’s memories and history of struggle.

In February 2013, the Gonojagoron Mancha at Shahbagh became the epicenter of a historic mass awakening. Led by the younger generation demanding justice for war criminals, this movement reignited the spirit of the Liberation War. Projonmo Chottor stood as a living memorial to that movement—a place where thousands gathered to raise their voices for justice. This square was not just a structure but a symbol of a nation’s struggle, hope, and unity. Now, under the cover of darkness, bulldozers have reduced this symbol to rubble.

Prior to this, under Dr. Yunus’s administration, over 2,000 memorials related to the Liberation War and more than 300 murals and sculptures of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, have been demolished.

Additionally, seven historic “Walls of Fame” at Bijoy Smarani—representing the pivotal chapters of 1952, 1954, 1962, 1966, 1969, 1970, and 1971—were also razed. Through this systematic destruction, the nation’s glorious history and symbols of struggle are being erased one by one.

The question arises: Can history truly be erased this way?

Projonmo Chottor was not just a structure—it was the embodiment of a generation’s dreams, struggles, and ideals. Destroying it is not merely about breaking bricks and mortar; it is an attack on a nation’s consciousness and history. This incident has sparked intense public outrage. On social media, people are condemning it as “an insult to history” and “an assault on the spirit of the Liberation War by anti-liberation forces.”

An eyewitness and former student leader of Dhaka University said, “When the bulldozers tore down Projonmo Chottor on Saturday night, it felt like our memories of struggle were being destroyed. This wasn’t just a square—it was part of our generation’s identity.”

Historians and political analysts see this as a deliberate attempt to erase the spirit of the Liberation War and the memories of democratic movements. They warn that such actions could severely damage national unity and historical consciousness.

The destruction of Projonmo Chottor is not confined to the boundaries of Shahbagh—it is a blow to a nation’s struggle and memory. The question remains: Can this demolition spree erase our glorious past? Or will these memories remain eternally alive in the people’s consciousness?