10 Years in Jail for Damaging July Uprising Museum Artefacts

July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum

The July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum Act, 2026 has been enacted to establish and operate a museum dedicated to preserving, researching and displaying the history, artefacts and documents related to the July-August 2024 mass uprising and Bangladesh’s anti-autocracy movement.

Under the law, anyone who destroys, damages or alters an immovable artefact of the museum will face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to Tk 10 lakh, or both.

The Act was enacted on April 10, 2026. The museum, established under the law, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on August 5 and opened to the public the following day.

According to Section 4 of the Act, the museum’s head office will be at Ganabhaban in Dhaka.

The museum will also have the authority to declare, preserve and maintain secret detention centres where crimes against humanity were committed during the period from January 1, 2009, to August 5, 2024.

If any such detention centre is controlled by an organisation, the organisation will be required to hand it over to the museum in its existing condition. Such sites will be operated as branch museums.

Museum's scope

Under Section 5, the museum will search for, collect, preserve, research and display historical artefacts and memorabilia related to the July Mass Uprising, as well as the fall and flight of the former government.

Its collection will also include artefacts related to the history of East Bengal, the Language Movement, the struggle for independence and the 1971 Liberation War.

The museum will additionally preserve documentary evidence and other materials related to anti-democratic and human rights abuses and the rise of fascism.

The law allows the museum, with recommendations from its board and prior government approval, to permanently or temporarily exchange artefacts with the Bangladesh National Museum, other museums or individuals for preservation and display.

It may also give or receive artefacts as gifts, subject to formal agreements.

Under Section 16, the Director General or an authorised employee may inspect premises and take appropriate action if there are reasonable grounds to believe that a July Uprising-related artefact is being held by any person or organisation.

Penalties for damaging artefacts

Section 22 stipulates that destroying, damaging, altering or causing damage to an immovable artefact or any part of it will constitute an offence punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk 10 lakh, or both.

Under Section 23, stealing, smuggling, destroying, damaging or altering a movable artefact will carry a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk 5 lakh, or both.

Meanwhile, Section 24 makes engraving, writing, inscribing or signing on any collected or registered artefact an offence punishable by up to one year in prison, a fine of up to Tk 10,000, or both.

If a museum officer or employee is accused of any of these offences, departmental proceedings may also be initiated for misconduct, in addition to the penalties prescribed by law.

The Act also provides for public access to the museum upon payment of an admission fee determined by its board.