Under the newly enacted ‘July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum Act, 2026’, any individual who destroys, damages, alters, or causes harm to an immovable artefact of the museum faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to Tk 10 lakh, or both. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), the law was passed on April 10 to facilitate the preservation, exhibition, and research of historical artefacts, memorabilia, and documents from the July–August 2024 anti-autocracy mass uprising. The Act sets forth stringent penal provisions across separate sections to safeguard museum property, prevent artefact theft or trafficking, and ensure administrative accountability.
Under Section 25, if any officer or employee of the museum is implicated in these offences, mandatory departmental disciplinary proceedings for misconduct may be initiated against them alongside standard criminal prosecution. However, the law directs that if judicial proceedings regarding the matter are pending before a court, administrative authorities must exercise legal caution before reaching a final departmental decision.
