A mob of over 100 people stormed a house in Dhaka’s upscale Gulshan-2 area past midnight on Tuesday, claiming it belonged to Tanvir Imam, son of HT Imam, a former adviser to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Abdul Mannan, the house’s caretaker, has since filed a complaint with Gulshan Police Station. He told reporters that the house does not belong to HT Imam or his family. The homeowner’s daughter had divorced Tanvir Imam 20-25 years ago, he clarified.
Live footage aired on multiple news channels showed the intruders, who identified themselves as local residents, breaking into the house, claiming they had “information” that a stockpile of illegal weapons and cash was hidden inside. They also alleged that individuals involved in killing student protesters during the July uprising were hiding there.
As the crowd gathered near the residence, located close to Shahabuddin Park in Dhaka’s diplomatic enclave, journalists and YouTubers quickly arrived, broadcasting the unfolding events live. Their presence amplified the chaos, with shouting and commotion spreading panic through the neighborhood.
At one stage, the mob forced open the door and ransacked the house, searching every corner while TV channels captured the scene in real-time.
Despite being alerted, police officers arrived at the scene but took no immediate action. It was only after army personnel were deployed that the situation was brought under control.
Before dispersing, the intruders were required to provide their personal details to law enforcement. As they left, they admitted they had found no illegal firearms, cash, or fugitives.
Speaking to reporters after the ordeal, caretaker Mannan expressed frustration over the law enforcement response. “People broke the door and stormed in. We tried to resist, but we couldn’t. They ransacked the house,” he said.
