Dhanmondi 32 vandalism: Court dismisses case petition against Yunus, Asif Nazrul, and 25 others

A Dhaka court has dismissed a petition seeking to lodge a case against 27 people, including former interim government chief adviser Muhammad Yunus and former law adviser Asif Nazrul, over the vandalism and arson at the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka.

One Tamanna Chowdhury Priyanka filed the petition before the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Jewel Rana earlier today (20 August).

The court recorded the complainant's statement and kept its order pending, said the complainant's lawyer AKM Sharif Uddin.

Later, the court dismissed the petition under Section 203 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, finding insufficient grounds to proceed with it, confirmed state prosecutor Muhammad Shamsuddoha Sumon.

According to the complaint, on 5 February 2025, the accused and other unidentified individuals formed an unlawful assembly of around 3,000 to 5,000 people, armed with sticks, hammers, combustible materials and other weapons, and attacked the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman memorial residence at Dhanmondi 32 allegedly with the accused's direct support, incitement and cooperation.

At around 10pm that night, the attackers allegedly entered the building, vandalised and set fire to it, while damaging and looting historical artefacts, documents, Liberation War records, documentaries, books and other valuable items.

The complaint further alleged that two bulldozers, an excavator, hammers and other heavy machinery were brought in to demolish the building. The demolition continued through the night and the building was reduced to rubble by around 5pm the following day.

It was also alleged that some of the accused went live on YouTube and Facebook to incite and support the vandalism, arson and looting of documents and papers from the house, while some allegedly provided financial assistance.

The complaint further alleged that despite prior announcements of the planned attack, the accused who were in government positions took no steps to protect the property.

The application also named former environment adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, former press secretary and editor of Daily Waadaa Shafiqul Alam, former home adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, cultural affairs adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, NCP Convener and lawmaker Nahid Islam, NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, former interim government adviser Mahfuz Alam, NCP Member Secretary Akhter Hossen, NCP Chief Organiser (South) and lawmaker Md Hasnat Abdullah, NCP leader and lawmaker Abdul Hannan Masud, NCP Chief Organiser (North) Sarjis Alam, NCP Senior Joint Convener Samanta Sharmin, NCP nominated reserved seat MP Nusrat Tabassum, former NCP senior joint member secretary and independent candidate for the 13th national election Tasnim Jara, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, NCP Senior Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adeeb, NCP Joint Member Secretary Saleh Uddin Sifat, online activists Pinaki Bhattacharya, Elias Hossain, and Kanak Sarwar, retd Colonel Nuran Nabi, Tahrima Jannat Surovi, Md Milon, Fahim Al Chowdhury, and Abul Kalam Azad, as accused.