A court has dismissed a petition seeking to file a case against former interim government Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, former Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul and 25 others over alleged vandalism, looting and arson at the historic Dhanmondi 32 house in Dhaka.

On Thursday (August 20) morning, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana recorded the statement of the complainant, Tamanna Chowdhury Priyanka, and kept the order pending. Later, at around 2:30pm, the court dismissed the petition without taking cognizance of the case. Abu Shaheen, bench assistant of the concerned court, confirmed the matter.

The case named 27 individuals as accused and also included 3,000 to 5,000 unidentified people.

The other named accused include former Environment and Disaster Management Adviser Dr Rezwana Hasan, former Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, former Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, former Cultural Affairs Adviser Mustafa Sarwar Farooki, former adviser and MP Nahid Islam, Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Mahfuj Alam, student coordinator Akhtar Hossain, MP Mohammad Hasnat Abdullah, Abdul Hannan Masud, Sarjis Alam, Samanta Sharmin, Nusrat Tabassum, Dr Tasnim Jara, Nasiruddin Patwari, Ariful Islam Adib, Saleh Uddin Sifat, YouTuber Pinaki Bhattacharya, Elias Hossain, Kanak Sarwar, Colonel (retd) Nurnabi, Tahreema Jannat Survi, bulldozer supplier Md Milon, Fahim Al Chowdhury and Abul Kalam Azad.

According to the complaint, on February 5 last year, the accused allegedly entered the Dhanmondi 32 premises by breaking through the main gate as part of a pre-planned effort, without any provocation.

It further alleged that the building was subsequently demolished using bulldozers under the alleged instigation, negligence and direction of accused Nos. 1 to 9.

The complaint claimed that valuable state and Liberation War documents, collected memorabilia and other assets were looted and permanently destroyed through vandalism and arson.

The complainant sought to bring charges under Sections 143, 147, 148, 379, 380, 395, 427, 435, 438, 448, 420, 506 and 507 of the Penal Code. The petition also sought action under Sections 3/4 of the Explosives Act and relevant provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act, along with arrest warrants against the accused.

However, the court dismissed the petition on Thursday without taking cognizance of the case.