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The July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum Act, 2026 has been enacted to establish and regulate the museum dedicated to preserving, researching and displaying the history, artefacts and documents related to the July-August 2024 mass uprising and the anti-autocracy movement.
Under the new 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 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 located at Ganabhaban in Dhaka.
The museum will also have the authority to declare, preserve and maintain secret detention centres where crimes against humanity were allegedly committed during the period from January 1, 2009, to August 5, 2024.
If any such detention centre is under the control of an organisation, it will have to be handed over to the museum in its existing condition. The centres will subsequently operate as branch museums.
Museum’s responsibilities
Under Section 5, the museum will be responsible for searching for, collecting, preserving, researching and displaying historical artefacts and memorabilia related to the July Mass Uprising, as well as the fall and departure of the former government.
Its collection will also cover artefacts related to the history of East Bengal, the Language Movement, the struggle for independence and the 1971 Liberation War.
The museum will further preserve documentary evidence and other materials related to anti-democratic and human rights violations and the rise of fascism.
The Act 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 any premises if there are reasonable grounds to believe that a July Uprising-related artefact is being kept there and take action in accordance with the Act or relevant rules.
Penalties for artefact damage
Section 22 states that destroying, damaging, altering or causing damage to an immovable artefact of the museum 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.
Section 24 makes engraving, writing, inscribing or putting a signature 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 against them for misconduct, in addition to the prescribed legal punishment.
The law also provides for public access to the museum upon payment of an admission fee determined by its board.