The interim government has established a July Uprising Memorial Museum committee, with writer and filmmaker Ebadur Rahman as its convenor and Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus’s special assistant, Md. Mahfuz Alam, serving as its co-convenor.
Nahid Islam, the advisor for information and broadcasting, unveiled the committee at a press briefing at the Ganabhaban on Saturday.
Writer and human rights advocate Mustain Billah, faculty member Jahid Sabuj of Jagannath University’s fine arts department, anthropology professor Nurul Momen Bhuiyan of the National University, photographer and research director Tanzim Wahab of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, writer and researcher Sahul Ahmed Munna, architect Marina Tabassum, and senior officials from various government agencies, such as the Department of Archaeology and the Bangladesh National Museum, Archives, and Libraries, are among the other committee members.
There will be one or two student representatives on the committee as well. According to Prof. Ali Riaz, Mahfuzand and Mustain are also members of the Constitution Reform Commission.
Ganabhaban, located in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at the northern corner of the parliament building, is the home of former prime minister Hasina.
On August 5, she fled her home to India in response to a student-led mass uprising.
Angry mobs overran the property in the days that followed, destroying it and looting everything within and outside.
Following the announcement by the committee, Nahid stated that the museum would commemorate the triumphs of the people and students while also preserving artefacts that reflect 16 years of oppression in Bangladesh.
For the museum, a model of “Ayna Ghor,” or “house of mirrors,” is also being considered. In addition to conserving artefacts, Nahid expressed the hope that the public would view the museum as a tribute to their accomplishments and struggles.
Mahfuz said during the briefing that the people of Bangladesh had defied the fascist leader’s haughtiness by going into Ganabhaban, which had represented the people’s suffering for the previous sixteen years.
In addition, he stated that the museum will be accessible to both Bangladeshis and people worldwide, and he expressed optimism that the newly established committee would start construction on it this week.
