Dhaka, Bangladesh – The day after the conclusion of Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year autocratic rule, Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, was enveloped in a peculiar and somber atmosphere. Streets that had been bustling with jubilant crowds celebrating Hasina’s fall were noticeably quieter, with fewer cars and pedestrians. Most striking was the complete absence of police; there were no officers, guards, or traffic regulators visible in the city, which has a population of about 20 million.

In several areas, traffic management was taken over by young men in their twenties. At the Bijoy Sarani intersection, a key route to the airport and parliament, five or six young men directed traffic using bamboo sticks and even a cricket bat. A man with a pointed beard guided the flow of vehicles heading towards the Tejgaon industrial area, waving a bamboo stick to direct traffic in an orderly manner.

In the evening, an iconic bronze statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country’s founding father and Hasina’s father, was toppled by a crowd that used ropes to pull it down, subsequently smashing its base with hammers and chisels. Enthusiastic groups quickly gathered to collect pieces of the fallen statue. Asraf Ul Jubair, who shared videos of the incident on Facebook, remarked, “It reminded me of the video of Saddam Hussein’s statue being pulled down.”

As the night progressed, violence erupted, with groups armed with sticks and sharp weapons attacking individuals associated with Hasina’s Awami League. Mahbubul Haque, a resident of Dhanmondi, recounted witnessing a group arriving in a car and beginning to vandalize a building owned by a prominent intellectual known for his support of Hasina’s controversial actions. “At one point, they started firing shots, and we were terrified,” he stated.

It has been reported that at least 119 people lost their lives during protests on Monday, marking the deadliest day in a week of demonstrations. Many police stations became targets for protesters, as police had been perceived as corrupt under Hasina’s administration. Speculation about Indian agents supporting Hasina has also been widespread, further heightening tensions.

Amid images of violence and destruction circulating on social media, there were also reports of individuals, including madrassa (Islamic school) students, protecting temples and Hindu homes. Gobinda Chandra Pramanik, a leader of the Hindu community in Bangladesh, noted that no Hindus had been killed, though many houses and businesses associated with the Awami League were attacked.

By Tuesday morning, conversations in the city revolved around who would lead the interim government. Many discussed that Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Prize-winning economist, should be its adviser. The majority of the city remained calm; however, in Dhanmondi, crowds continued to gather at the remaining buildings belonging to the Awami League.

The crowds even responded by destroying what they perceived as symbols of Hasina’s regime, while expressing a need to quickly restore law and order. “We have successfully removed a dictator and strive to build a just nation,” stated Saiyeed Abdullah, a law student.

Abdus Shakur, a mechanic who had spent the night awake at the Dhakeshwari Temple, affirmed that citizen volunteers would ensure no vandalism or violence occurred in the absence of police. “We expect a new government that will not only restore law and order but also provide proper justice,” he said.