Bangabandhu Memorial Museum

Bangabandhu Memorial Museum
বঙ্গবন্ধু স্মৃতি জাদুঘর
Front gate of the museum
Map
General information
StatusDamaged by fire
TypeResidence (1961–1975)
AddressHouse 677/10, Road 32/11, Dhanmondi, Dhaka
CountryBangladesh
Coordinates23°45′06″N 90°22′35″E / 23.75167°N 90.37639°E / 23.75167; 90.37639
Construction started1960
Completed1966
Opened14 August 1994
ClientSheikh Mujibur Rahman
OwnerBangabandhu Memorial Trust
Technical details
Floor count3
Known forResidence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Website
bangabandhumuseum.org.bd
A memorial monument at the lakeshore in front of the museum

Bangabandhu Memorial Museum,[a] also known as Bangabandhu Bhaban or Dhanmondi 32, located in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh,[1] was the personal residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was also called Bangabandhu, the founding leader and president of Bangladesh.[2] Mujib was assassinated with most members of his family in this residence. The museum was listed as a national heritage site in 2009 by RAJUK and was largely damaged in a mob violence in 2024.[3][4]

History

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1956–1961

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In 1956, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the industry minister of East Pakistan, applied to the government through his private secretary to be allotted a plot in the Dhanmondi residential project in Dhaka, the administrative capital. A year later, the government allotted him a plot in Dhanmondi for Rs. 6,000. Until 12 October 1958, Sheikh Rahman and his family lived in a government building in Shegunbagicha, Dhaka.[citation needed] Martial law had been declared a few days earlier, and on 11 October Sheikh Rahman was arrested.[5] His family were evicted from the property, after which they rented a house in Siddheshwari, Dhaka.[citation needed]

As a result of government threats, the family had to vacate the house in Siddheshwari and move to a rented one in Segunbagicha with help from Sufia Kamal. Sheikh Rahman was imprisoned until 1960; after his release, he constructed a one-storey house there.[6] He began living in the two-room, unfinished house with his family, having secured a loan from House Building Finance Corporation, from 1 August 1961. Sheikh Rahman had to pay Rs. 1,000 advance to get the plot.[7]

1961–1975

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Sheikh Rahman's youngest son Sheikh Russel was born in this house on 18 October 1964.[8] In 1966, the house was extended to two storeys and became a complete residential building where many important events in the political history of Pakistan, such as the six point movement, 1969 East Pakistan mass uprising, 1970 Pakistani general election, occurred. It was the centre of political activities of Sheikh Rahman and the Pakistan Awami League.[7] On the night of 25 to 26 March 1971, Sheikh Rahman proclaimed the independence of Bangladesh in the house shortly before the Pakistani army arrested him.[9][10]

The house was damaged during the Bangladesh Liberation War, after which it was repaired. After Sheikh Rahman returned from Pakistan, he and his family returned to the house, where they lived from February 1972 to August 1975.[11] On 15 August 1975, disgruntled army officers assassinated Sheikh Rahman, his wife Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, and their sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russel.[b][12][13]

1975–1994

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The military government acquired the house after it came to power on 15 August 1975. The Sheikh–Wazed family was forbidden to enter the house so Sheikh Hasina was not allowed inside after she returned to Bangladesh on 17 May 1981. On 10 June that year, Sheikh Hasina obtained ownership of the house when she paid a loan installment; the house was put up for auction due to non-payment of installments of the loan given for construction of the building.[7] On 12 June 1981, the house was officially handed to the surviving family members of Sheikh Rahman's family; Hasina later found Sheikh Rahman's diaries in the building and they were later published in the form of memoirs.[14] Sheikh Hasina continued to live in the government quarter in Mohakhali with her husband after obtaining ownership of her father's house, after which she used it for political purposes.[7]

1994–present

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Conversion to a museum

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After Sheikh Hasina obtained ownership of the residence, she announced it would be converted into a museum, having had the idea after she was arrested for attending a political program during the 1990 Mass Uprising in Bangladesh. Sufia Kamal, Baby Maudud, Gaziul Haque, Pavel Rahman and many others helped convert the house into a museum.[7] The museum was inaugurated on 14 August 1994, and it was handed to Bangabandhu Memorial Trust to turn it into a museum on 6 September 1994.[15] The trust selected architects Ehsan Khan, Ishtiaque Jahir and Iqbal Habib from an architectural design competition.[16] During the conversion, the trust preserved the original structure of the house.[17] On 20 August 2011, the museum was extended by building a new six-storey structure adjacent to the house.[7]

Memorandum of understanding

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The Bangabandhu Memorial Museum signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Museum, New Delhi, on 17 December 2020 following a virtual summit between India and Bangladesh, aimed at facilitating knowledge-sharing between the two museums on training, the conservation of fabrics and the curation of exhibits.[18]

Description

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The ground floor of the house has a drawing room, a reading room and a kitchen. The drawing room was used for political discussions and has housed a gallery since the house became a museum.[19] On the second floor is Sheikh Hasina's bedroom, and those of Sheikh Rahman, Sheikh Jamal, Sheikh Kamal and Sheikh Rehana. Adjacent to Sheikh Rahman's bedroom is a room where he used to watch television and eat meals with his family.[20] It has a virtual section that can guide visitors on a virtual tour of the house. This virtual section also has a showcase that contains several important and historical documents.[21]

The new section of the museum houses the Sheikh Lutfar Rahman and Sheikh Sayera Khatun Gallery', which is after the parents of Bangabandhu.[19] There is also a library and a research centre.[8] At the entrance to the building is a reception hall on the ground floor that was used for official purposes. While other rooms of the museum are open for visitors, Sheikh Hasina's bedroom, store room and waiting room were closed.[8]

Former collections

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Exhibitions on the second floor
Clothing worn by Mujib and his family members during their assassination
Including these, most of the items of the museum were looted and destroyed during the 2024 mob violence.

Among the former collections, the museum sheltered Sheikh Russel's possessions such as balls, aquariums, toys and watches. There was also a souvenir shop,[22] In a room Sheikh Rahman used as a salon where he often meet visitors and guests, a cyclostyle was installed after 7 March 1971 which was used by Sheikh Rahman. There was also a personal library, from which he declared the independence of Bangladesh by wireless. A telephone in this room was damaged by the Pakistani army firing on 25 March 1971.[8]

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  • The corridor of the museum
    The corridor of the museum
  • The staircase where Mujib was assassinated
    The staircase where Mujib was assassinated
  • Balcony on the second floor, from where Mujib used to address the crowd
    Balcony on the second floor, from where Mujib used to address the crowd
  • A 1986 Memorial portrait of Mujib at the ground floor
    A 1986 Memorial portrait of Mujib at the ground floor

Vandalisms

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1971 attack and occupation

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After the declaration of independence of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujib was arrested by the Pakistani army at 1:30 am, the first hour of 26 March, and detained first in Dhaka Cantonment and then in Miwanwali Jail in Pakistan's Punjab. The Mujib family was kept under house arrest in house 26 of road 18 in Dhanmondi. The house was occupied by the Pakistani army until the war-victory of Bangladesh. The building was damaged by firing by the Pakistani forces. After Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returned home in 1972, when the repair work of the house was completed, he continued to live in this house with his family from the last week of February.[7]

1975 assassination and loot

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On August 15, 1975, after the Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family, the house was looted.[23] On 30 April 2001, 12 military officers were sentenced to death in the assassination case.[24]

1989 attack

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On the night of 10 August 1989, a group of 15/20 armed men fired gunshots targeting the building and hurled grenades to assassinate Sheikh Hasina, when she was staying at the building. Meanwhile, the security guards fired back and when Awami League leaders and activists chased them, the gunmen shouted slogans in favor of the Bangladesh Freedom Party and fled towards Dhanmondi 26. Two separate cases were filed in Dhanmondi police station in this incident. On 29 October 2017, 11 members of the Freedom Party were sentenced.[25]

2024 mob violence

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See also: 2024 Bangladesh post-resignation violence
The library on the ground floor, was looted and destroyed by fire.

On 5 August 2024, the museum was set on fire by mobs during the Non-cooperation movement anti-government protests against the government of Mujib's daughter, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The interior of the museum was looted and largely gutted by the fire.[26] The fire also set to nearby buildings, causing severe damage. The modern extension of the museum complex, which housed a library, auditorium, and photo gallery, was also completely destroyed. An adjacent restaurant was burned as well.[4] Later, four charred bodies of unidentified persons were recovered from the premises.[27][28]

Graffiti work by students on the ruined monument.

On the next day, the building was surrounded by crowds. Numerous people visited the residence, took photos and painted protest graffiti on the wall.[4] Army personnel tried to control the situation, were also joined by students. The students and troops blocked several attempts to steal or loot from the site.[4] Many books rescued from the library were sent to the public library.[4] The students also conducted a clean-up operation and the building’s security was entirely given under the military control.[29]

After visiting the site, Abdul Kader Siddique, the founder and head of the Kaderia Force during the Bangladesh Liberation War stated,

"I should have died before watching the way they destroyed and burned the house at Road 32... This destruction done today will be a dark chapter in the history of Bengalis."[30]

On 15 August 2024, on the anniversary of the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman some people attempted to visit the site to pay respect were attacked by a mob with sticks.[31] The attack caused death of one and over a hundred reported to be hospitalised.[32][33] Actress Rokeya Prachy was assaulted at the site when she went to pay her respects and the car of Kader Siddique was vandalized.[34][35] The roads leading to the site were blocked by mobs who danced to music.[31] They prevent journalists from taking photos of the assaults.[36]

Notable visitors

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This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
US Undersecretary Thomas A. Shannon Jr. and Director General of the US Foreign Service Marcia Bernicat at the museum on 5 November 2017.

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Its official name is Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum but is commonly referred to as Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.
  2. ^ At that time Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, Mujib's daughters, were in West Germany.

Citations

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  1. ^ "Bangabandhu Memorial Trust Meets". albd.org. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  2. ^ "Bangabandhu's birthday today". The Daily Star. 17 March 2017. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  3. ^ Ali, Tawfique (5 February 2009). "100 heritage sites listed: Gazette notification soon to conserve those". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Bangabandhu museum on Dhanmondi 32: Torching an integral part of country's history". The Daily Star. 7 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Righting The Grievous Wrong: His life, struggle". The Daily Star. 19 November 2009. Archived from the original on 4 September 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  6. ^ বঙ্গবন্ধু ভবনের ইতিহাস [Building History]. Bangabandhumuseum.org.bd (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Hasan, Mahbub (15 August 2020). ধানমন্ডি-৩২ এর সেই বাড়িটি যেভাবে হয়ে উঠলো 'বঙ্গবন্ধু জাদুঘর' [How that house in Dhanmondi-32 became 'Bangabandhu Museum']. Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  8. ^ a b c d Tabassam, Rifat (15 August 2022). "Bangabandhu Memorial Museum: Witness to History and Tragedy". United News of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  9. ^ Ahsan, Syed Badrul (15 August 2022). "Dhanmondi 32, Bangabandhu and our history". Bdnews24.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  10. ^ Ludden, David (2011). "The Politics of Independence in Bangladesh". Economic and Political Weekly. 46 (35): 84. ISSN 0012-9976. JSTOR 23017911. Archived from the original on 20 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022 – via JSTOR.
  11. ^ বাড়ির ঠিকানা ৩২ নম্বর ধানমন্ডি [House address is 32 Dhanmondi]. The Times of India (in Bengali). 25 August 2020. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  12. ^ "AL organises month-long programmes to mark National Mourning Day". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  13. ^ "68th birthday of Sheikh Kamal observed". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  14. ^ "Karagarer Rojnamcha: A Jail Diary with a Difference". The Daily Star. 20 May 2017. Archived from the original on 29 November 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  15. ^ "Tracing the beginnings of the Bangabandhu Memorial Trust". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  16. ^ Syed Tawsif Monowar (15 August 2022). সাক্ষাৎকার: স্থপতি এহসান খান; চিরায়ত স্থাপত্যে চিরন্তন মুজিব [Interview: Architect Ehsan Khan; Eternal Mujib in traditional architecture]. Ittefaq (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  17. ^ ইতিহাসজুড়ে ধানমন্ডি ৩২ [Dhanmondi 32 throughout history]. Bangladesh Pratidin (in Bengali). 15 August 2015. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  18. ^ "Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, Nat'l Museum of India ink MoU". New Age. 17 December 2020. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  19. ^ a b "Bangabandhu Memorial Museum: A heritage tourism site". Daily Sun. 28 May 2019. Archived from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  20. ^ Imdad, Kazi (13 August 2018). বঙ্গবন্ধুর স্মৃতিময় ধানমন্ডি ৩২ নম্বর বাড়ি [Bangabandhu's memorial Dhanmondi house number 32]. Channelionline.com (in Bengali). Channel i. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  21. ^ "A museum that mourns Bangladesh's worst carnage". Thefinancialexpress.com.bd. 14 August 2020. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  22. ^ Reka, Dixita (15 August 2022). "Reader Submission: An Indian in Dhanmondi 32". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  23. ^ "প্রত্যক্ষদর্শীদের জবানবন্দি". Prothom Alo. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  24. ^ "News Details". Retrieved 15 March 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  25. ^ "'৮৯ সালের ১০ আগস্ট গ্রেনেড গুলিতে কেঁপে ওঠে ধানমন্ডির ৩২ নম্বর". Cumillar Dhoni. 18 February 2021.
  26. ^ Article, Jo Lawson-Tancred ShareShare This (6 August 2024). "Protestors Set Cultural Institutions on Fire in Bangladesh". Artnet News. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  27. ^ "Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, Awami League offices set ablaze in Dhaka". Dhaka Tribune. 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  28. ^ "Monday's Clashes: 92 bodies taken to hospitals". Daily Star. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  29. ^ "Students step up to clean streets after Hasina's ouster". Daily Sun. 8 August 2024.
  30. ^ "Torching Bangabandhu Museum will be a 'dark chapter' in Bengali history, says Kader Siddique". bdnews24. 7 August 2024.
  31. ^ a b Mashal, Mujib; Hasnat, Saif (15 August 2024). "A Mob Attack on a Toppled Party Shows Bangladesh's Dangerous Vacuum". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  32. ^ "Former BCL leader dies of injuries". The Financial Express. 30 August 2024.
  33. ^ "Dhanmondi 32: More than 100 hospitalised after beatings, 30 taken away by security forces". bdnews24. 15 August 2024.
  34. ^ "Crowd paying homage to Bangabandhu at Dhanmondi 32 assaulted with sticks". Crowd paying homage at Dhanmondi 32 attacked. Archived from the original on 19 August 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  35. ^ Mojid, Muhammad Ibrahim (16 August 2024). "Vandalism, media harassment and citizens' humiliation". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  36. ^ "Bangladeshi protesters attack supporters of ex-premier Hasina and harass journalists". Washington Post. 16 August 2024. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  37. ^ "West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee visits Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Bangladesh". Yahoo! News. 21 February 2015. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  38. ^ "PM Narendra Modi Visits Bangabandhu Museum in Dhaka". NDTV. 6 June 2015. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  39. ^ "Foreign visitors must see Bangabandhu Memorial Museum once: Rabi Shastri". Daily Sun. 10 August 2015. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  40. ^ "John Kerry visits Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi". Bdnews24.com. 29 August 2016. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  41. ^ "WB President visits Bangabandhu Museum". The Daily Observer. 18 October 2016. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  42. ^ "Jolie praises PM Hasina as exemplary leader". Dhaka Tribune. 6 February 2019. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  43. ^ বঙ্গবন্ধু জাদুঘর ঘুরে দেখলেন ব্রাজিলের সাবেক গোলরক্ষক সিজার [Cesar, the former goalkeeper of Brazil, visited Bangabandhu Museum]. Somoy TV (in Bengali). 23 January 2020. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  44. ^ "US Deputy Secretary of State pays tributes to Bangabandhu". The Business Standard. 15 October 2020. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  45. ^ "President Bhandari visits Bangabandhu Memorial museum". Nepalnews.com. 23 March 2021. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  46. ^ "Bhutanese PM Dr Tshering pays tribute to Bangabandhu". The Busincess Standard. 23 March 2021. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  47. ^ "Army chief Gen Naravane visits Bangabandhu museum to pay tribute to Bangladesh's founding father". The Hindu. 9 April 2021. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  48. ^ "UNGA President pays tribute to Bangabandhu". Daily Sun. 25 May 2021. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  49. ^ "Maldives VP Faisal Naseem visits Bangabandhu Museum". New Age. 22 November 2021. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  50. ^ "President Kovind visits Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, pays his respect to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman". The Times of India. 15 December 2021. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  51. ^ "Chinese FM Wang Yi pays homage to Bangabandhu". United News of Bangladesh. 6 August 2022. Archived from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  52. ^ বঙ্গবন্ধু জাদুঘরে ব্যাশেলে [Bachelet in Bangabandhu Museum]. Bdnews24.com (in Bengali). 15 August 2022. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  53. ^ "France's Macron Visits Bangabandhu Memorial Museum In Dhaka". Barron's. 11 September 2023.
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