A Dhaka court has dismissed a petition seeking to file 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 Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s residence on Dhanmondi 32, Dhaka.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana passed the order around noon on Thursday, saying there were insufficient grounds to take the case into cognizance, court bench assistant Abu Shahin said.
Earlier in the day, one Tamanna Chowdhury Priyanka filed the case petition with Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Jewel Rana’s court.
Among the other accused are former interim government adviser Dr Rizwana Hasan, former Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, former Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, NCP Convener Nahid Islam, spokesperson Asif Mahmud, former adviser Mahfuz Alam, and others.
According to the case petition, on February 5, 2025, around 3,000-5,000 people gathered unlawfully at Dhanmondi 32, armed with sticks, hammers, inflammable materials and other weapons, with the direct support, instigation or assistance of the accused.
The complaint alleges that the group entered the building at around 10pm, vandalised and set fire to it, and looted historical artefacts, documents, Liberation War records, documentaries, books and other valuables.
It further alleges that bulldozers, excavators, hammers and other heavy machinery were brought in to demolish the building, which was reduced to rubble by around 5pm the following day.
The complaint also alleges that some of the accused used YouTube and Facebook livestreams to encourage the vandalism, arson and looting, while some allegedly provided financial support.
It further claims that despite prior announcements about the planned attack, those responsible for protecting the building took no steps to prevent the incident.
