Signboard belonging to legal heir Arma Datta demolished in the name of heritage preservation; incident sparks public outrage and condemnation
Leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP) Cumilla Metropolitan unit have been accused of smashing a signboard at the ancestral home of language movement martyr Dhirendranath Datta in Cumilla. The incident took place on Friday night, November 6, at the historic property on the western bank of Dharmasagar Lake. The leaders reportedly claimed they were acting to protect the historic building and establish a memorial museum.
Several videos showing the signboard being demolished circulated on social media on Saturday, triggering criticism and condemnation from people across different sections of society, including Arma Datta, granddaughter of Dhirendranath Datta and a former member of parliament from a reserved women’s seat.
Local sources said demands had been raised over the years to renovate and preserve the house and establish a memorial museum there, but no effective initiative had been taken. Meanwhile, Arma Datta placed a signboard at the property identifying herself as its legal heir. She is the daughter of Sanjib Datta, the only son of Dhirendranath Datta.
The signboard read: “The rightful owner of this land by inheritance is Arma Datta. Father: Late Sanjib Datta. Plot No. 1800, Mouza Chhotora, Cumilla.”
NCP leaders defend demolition
NCP leaders in Cumilla claimed the house was an important part of the country’s national heritage, closely connected to the Language Movement and the Liberation War. They alleged that the signboard had been installed as part of an attempt to sell the property and that parts of the old structure had already been removed. They said they demolished the signboard to prevent the sale.
Eyewitnesses said NCP leaders arrived at the property on Friday evening, spoke about the need to preserve the historic building and subsequently smashed the signboard.
In a press statement signed by Masumul Bari Kawsar, member secretary of the NCP Cumilla Metropolitan unit, the party said the house was not an ordinary structure but an important national heritage site linked to the history of the Language Movement and the Liberation War. It called for the property to be preserved through a state initiative rather than treated as an object of private sale.
The statement added that the party would submit written applications to the government and relevant authorities seeking preservation of the house.
Speaking on Saturday, Masumul Bari Kawsar said, “We demolished the signboard to protect a historic house. There was no other intention. We hope the government and Arma Datta, as the legal heir, will support us. If anyone attempts to sell this land or construct a multi-storey building there, we will resist it with the people.”
‘It is my property, and the decision is mine’
Arma Datta said, “This is our ancestral property. I am its legal heir, and the people of Cumilla know that. What I do with this property—whether I preserve it or sell it—is entirely my personal decision. But it is unfortunate that the legally placed signboard of a house was smashed like this at night. I will take appropriate legal steps in this matter.”
The incident has raised questions about the limits of intervention in privately owned property in the name of heritage preservation. While the demand to preserve a historically significant building may be raised, questions remain over whether individuals or political groups can take unilateral action against a legal heir’s property rights without following due legal and institutional procedures.
Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali Model Police Station Touhidul Anwar said they had not received any complaint over the demolition of the signboard. “If a complaint is filed, the matter will be investigated,” he said.
Dhirendranath Datta’s historic role
Dhirendranath Datta is remembered for raising the demand on February 23, 1948, in Pakistan’s Constituent Assembly that Bengali be recognised as a state language alongside Urdu and English.
On the night of March 29, 1971, the Pakistani army took him and his son, Dilip Kumar Datta, from their residence in Cumilla. They were never heard from again. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Language Movement and the Liberation War, he was posthumously awarded the Independence Award in 1997.
Arma Datta, daughter of Dilip Kumar Datta, served as a member of parliament from a reserved women’s seat following the 11th and 12th parliamentary elections.
