A disturbing video of the damage inflicted on the Indira Gandhi Cultural Center (IGCC) in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area has surfaced amid the instability in Bangladesh, where violent protests over a jobs quota have resulted in over 400 deaths and the enforced resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The incident transpired on the afternoon of 5th August. The footage shows the building’s charred appearance. The contrast between the scorch marks and the stunning green of the lawns presents a dramatic image. On the front, where previously the sign read Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre, now only the letters ‘G’, ‘N’ and ‘A’ remain, with broken windows and twisted metal rods from an awning staring mournfully.
Shocking visuals. Aftermath of attack, loot and arson by Islamists at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) at Dhaka in Bangladesh which is a Cultural Centre of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations of GOI. Entire building gutted. Is this what the protest was all about? pic.twitter.com/VfK34h5V7A
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) August 6, 2024
Debris is all over the ground at the centre’s main entrance. Additionally, the clip shows some unknown young men wandering around the institution’s grounds. It appears like they are hauling away rubble, including what appear to be big pipelines. Furthermore, it displays partially burned bags that might be gifts from the cultural centre’s gift shop spread out around the floor. The footage shows a room that has been entirely wiped bare, which highlights the scale of the destruction and looting. Chipped bricks are showing through the scorched paint on the walls. A person is shown going across several old VHS cassettes that seem to be from the archives department, as they lie broken and crunch under his feet.
The Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre was opened in March 2010 to strengthen cultural relations between Bangladesh and India. The centre partners with India-based specialists in Hindi, Yoga, Indian traditional dances like Kathak and Manipuri as well as classical vocal music in addition to hosting a variety of cultural events and seminars. It also engages with high-calibre and leading professionals from Bangladesh who have obtained training from Indian gurus or organizations. The centre, a part of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations of India, also includes a library with over 21,000 books on issues relevant to Indian art, culture, politics, economics, and fiction.
On 5th August, amid widespread violence in the Bangladeshi capital, vehicles were set on fire and the homes of ruling Awami League leaders were vandalized. During the unrest, mobs torched several key locations in Dhaka, including Bangabandhu Bhaban, also known as the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32, a museum dedicated to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who was Bangladesh’s founder, Sheikh Hasina’s father and the nation’s most prominent leader. He was assassinated in 1975 while he was serving as president of the country.
Large portions of Dhaka were affected by the violence that destroyed the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre and Bangabandhu Bhaban in recent days. This included the Prime Minister’s house, which was stormed and looted by demonstrators soon after Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country. Hindus and their temples are also under attack from the violent throngs.
