A mob of over 100 people stormed a house in Dhaka’s Gulshan late Tuesday night, claiming it belonged to Tanvir Imam, the son of HT Imam, a former adviser to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Abdul Mannan, the caretaker of the house, filed a complaint that is currently being processed, according to Mokhlesur Rahman, inspector (investigation) at Gulshan Police Station. Rahman confirmed that three individuals have been detained, and clarified that the house does not belong to HT Imam or his son. The house actually belongs to Tanvir Imam’s former father-in-law, and the couple had divorced around 20-25 years ago.
Live footage from news outlets showed the intruders, who identified themselves as local residents, conducting a “search” for alleged illegal weapons, cash, and individuals connected to the killing of student protesters. As the mob gathered near Shahabuddin Park, close to the diplomatic enclave in Dhaka’s upscale neighborhood, journalists and YouTubers followed the crowd, some of whom were invited to film the search.
The mob chanted anti-Awami League slogans, causing panic in the area. They broke open the house door and proceeded to ransack wardrobes, shoe boxes, lockers, trolley bags, and beds. The entire incident was broadcast live by TV stations.
When the police arrived, they took no immediate action. Eventually, military personnel intervened, and the mob was allowed to leave after law enforcement recorded their addresses and other details.
The intruders later admitted that they found no illegal firearms, money, or individuals linked to the student protest killings. One of the youths, identified as Shakil Ahmed, told reporters, “We are local residents and entered the house to check for illegal firearms or money.” He also claimed that they had reported the matter to law enforcement but no action had been taken.
Caretaker Mannan confirmed to reporters that the house belonged to Rahman, Tanvir’s former father-in-law, and was not associated with HT Imam’s family. The mob had forcibly entered the house despite their resistance and ransacked the premises.
