On December 16, 1971, Pakistani troops surrendered before Indian Armed Forces and the Guerrilla fighters of erstwhile East Bengal in just 13 days. Putting an end to nearly 24 years of oppression, marked by genocide, gangrapes and exodus, a new nation was born! At the helm of it was Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who led the 1971 Liberation War with support from neighbouring India, then under prime minister Indira Gandhi. The war gave Bangladesh its independence.

But 53 years later, murals of Mujibur were smashed down and his residence was set ablaze by thousands of protesting Bangladeshis. Videos of protesters vandalising Mujibur's statues shall remain a defining moment in the history of Bangladesh. Here's why in just five decades, the 'father of Bangladesh' was a 'fallen hero'...

Script/Production: Shohini Bose
Edit/Animation: Abhishek Sharma