Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus visited Ganabhaban this afternoon to inspect the progress of the final stages of the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum.
The Chief Adviser arrived at the museum around 3:00 PM on Tuesday. During the visit, he toured the exhibits depicting the history behind the July mass uprising and the 16 years of Sheikh Hasina's misrule.
Accompanying the Chief Adviser were BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, and Jatiya Nagarik Committee Convener Nasiruddin Patwari (correction: text mentions Nahid Islam as Convener), among others.
Key advisers in attendance included Culture Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Law Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul, Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, Home Adviser Jahangir Alam, Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum, National Security Adviser Dr. Khalilur Rahman, SDG Coordinator Lamia Morshed, and Housing and Public Works Secretary Md. Nazrul Islam.
Also present were Sanjida Tuli, coordinator of Mayer Dak (an organization of families of the disappeared), enforced disappearance survivor Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem Arman, and student leaders who led the July uprising, including Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain and Hasnat Abdullah.
Led by Culture Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, the museum's curators Tanzim Wahab and Marina Tabassum Khan, along with researchers, guided the delegation through the exhibits.
Preservation of History
The July Memorial Museum houses:
• Photographs and memorabilia of the uprising.
• Clothing and letters belonging to the martyrs.
• Significant documents and contemporary newspaper clippings.
• Audio-visual materials and various artifacts.
• Visual records of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's escape.
During the visit, Professor Muhammad Yunus watched a 15-minute documentary produced by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. The film depicts enforced disappearances during the fascist regime, state-sponsored repression, attacks on the opposition, and the genocide committed during the July 2024 uprising.
Key Remarks by the Chief Adviser
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus described the museum as an unprecedented global example, stating it was made possible while the blood of the July martyrs was still fresh
"We do not want a need for such a museum to ever arise again in the future. However, if our nation ever loses its way, it will find its path here."
He further emphasized:
• Civic Duty: Every citizen, especially students, should spend a day at the museum to understand the brutality the nation endured.
• The "Ayna Ghar" Experience: He suggested that visitors should be allowed to spend time in the reconstructed "Ayna Ghar" (secret detention cells) to truly realize the horrific conditions prisoners faced.
• Unity Against Brutality: The museum serves as a reminder to remain united so that the nation never returns to such dark days.
• The Power of Youth: He lauded the courage of students and ordinary citizens who stood fearlessly against weapons despite being unarmed.
Timeline and Completion
Culture Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki noted that reaching this stage in such a short time is a record, achieved through the tireless, unpaid labor of many young volunteers over the last eight months.
He stated, "Work on several more sections will be completed shortly, and it will be opened to the public before the elections. This museum will stand as a symbol of history and a cornerstone for Bangladesh’s past, present, and future political discourse, education, research, and arts."
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