Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday toured the newly inaugurated July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum, viewing exhibits depicting the events leading up to the July 2024 mass uprising and what organisers described as the 16 years of “authoritarian rule” under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Former interim government Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus accompanied the Prime Minister during the visit.
Following the formal inauguration of the museum at Ganobhaban at 9:00am, Tarique Rahman toured its galleries before arriving at the discussion venue around 9:50am.
The museum displays photographs of the July uprising, personal belongings of those killed, clothing worn by the martyrs, letters, important documents, newspaper clippings and audio-visual materials documenting the movement.
It also features footage showing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leaving the country on August 5, 2024, amid the student-led mass uprising.
The museum contains exhibits portraying enforced disappearances, state-sponsored repression, attacks on political opponents and the killings that took place during the July 2024 uprising.
Various rooms, corridors, verandas and outdoor spaces on the ground floor have been used to display materials highlighting what organisers describe as different aspects of the previous government’s rule.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, State Minister Ali Newaz Mahmood Khyom, Information Adviser to the Prime Minister Zahed Ur Rahman and the Prime Minister’s daughter, Barrister Zaima Rahman, were among those accompanying him during the visit.
Earlier, the Prime Minister unveiled the inaugural plaque of the museum at a ceremony held on the museum premises. A prayer was offered following the inauguration.
The inaugural programme featured recollections of the courage and sacrifices made during the July mass uprising by July fighters and members of families of those who were killed during the movement.
Although formally inaugurated on Wednesday, the museum will be opened to the general public from Thursday.
The visitors will have to obtain tickets through an online booking system. The entry fee has been fixed at Tk 50 for adults and Tk 25 for children.
The museum will operate a time slot-based entry system to manage the expected large number of visitors. Applicants will be informed in advance of their allotted visiting time through the online booking system. If all slots for a particular day are filled, visitors will have to choose another available date.
On August 5, 2024, then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left the country for India in the face of the student-led mass uprising. Her official residence, Ganobhaban, was subsequently vandalised and looted.
Three days later, on August 8, the interim government, led by Prof Muhammad Yunus, took office. During its tenure, Ganobhaban was transformed into the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum to preserve memories and artefacts related to the movement.
