A group of protesters were holding a feast at  32 as remains of the demolished house of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were being taken away last night.

Protesters last night torched and tore down parts of the Dhanmondi-32 residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, after calls in social media for demolishing what they said was a "pilgrimage site of fascism".

An event titled "Bulldozer Procession" was scheduled for 9:00pm, timed to coincide with an online programme where deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina was slated to speak. The virtual event was announced by the now-banned Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League.

However, hundreds of protesters stormed the building and began taking it apart with shovels and hammers around 8:00pm, an hour before the planned procession. A mural of Mujib was also wrecked, witnesses said.

By around 9:30pm, the building was set on fire. A little before midnight, at least one crane and one excavator reached the spot, and by the time this report was filed around 2:00am today, parts of the building were razed to the ground.

According to some social media posts, the protest was in response to "Hasina's anti-Bangladesh activities from Delhi," where she fled on August 5.

At the scene, protesters chanted various slogans such as "Fashi Fashi Fashi Chai, Sheikh Hasinar Fashi Chai (Hang, hang, hang -- Sheikh Hasina must be hanged!); Sara Banglae Khobor De, Mujibbader Kobor De (Let all of Bangladesh know—let's bury Mujibism!); Awami League-er Pretatta, Bangladeshe Thakbe Na (There will be no place for Awami League's ghosts in Bangladesh!); Delhi Na Dhaka? Dhaka, Dhaka (Delhi or Dhaka? Dhaka, Dhaka!); and Inquilab Zindabad (Long live revolution!)"

One protester demanded that the AL be banned. "Awami League won't be allowed to participate in any election in Bangladesh," he said.

Law enforcers were seen nearby the spot since the beginning. At around 12:40pm, police took position in front of Metro Shopping Mall, yards away from the scene. No firefighters reached the spot as of midnight.

Army personnel went to the spot around 9:30pm, and took position on the main street. Later, they left the area, witnesses said.

"We don't want to keep the memory of any murderer in Bangladesh. Today, we stand against all the murderers … We don't need any security forces here," one protester told this correspondent.

Home Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam and Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner SM Sazzat Ali did not respond when this paper tried to reach them.

Meanwhile, protesters also set fire to Sudha Sadan, the Dhanmondi residence of Hasina's late husband and nuclear scientist MA Wazed Miah, around 11:00pm.

Fire service duty officer Rakibul Hasan said they received reports that the Sudha Sadan was set ablaze around 11:30pm.

"We have also received reports of the arson at Dhanmondi 32. We are acting according to the situation," he said.

Earlier around 7:30pm, The Daily peoples time spoke to Masud Alam, deputy commissioner (Ramna Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police about the security situation centring on the planned procession. He said they had no knowledge of any plan for attack on Dhanmondi 32.

DMP Additional Commissioner SN Nazrul Islam too said they were unaware of the "Bulldozer Procession".