United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday inaugurated the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital, marking the formal opening of a museum dedicated to preserving the memories of the 2024 July mass uprising. He unveiled the inaugural plaque at a ceremony held on the museum premises at the Ganobhaban (the residence of the former prime minister) on the northern side of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban around 9:00am. After the inauguration, Tarique Rahman toured the museum's galleries, where he viewed exhibits portraying the background of the July 2024 mass uprising, the role of students and ordinary people in the movement, and displays depicting the country's political developments and the 16-year autocratic rule of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Former Chief Adviser to the interim government Prof Muhammad Yunus was present at the ceremony. A prayer was offered following the inauguration before the Prime Minister toured different sections of the museum. Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan, Prime Minister's Adviser on Information and Cultural Affairs Zahed Ur Rahman, senior government officials and other distinguished guests were also present. The Prime Minister's daughter, Zaima Rahman, also visited the museum. 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. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Bangladesh for India on Aug 5, 2024 amid a student-led mass uprising. Her official residence, Ganobhaban, was subsequently vandalised by the angry people. On Aug 8, 2024, an interim government, headed by Prof Yunus, assumed office. During its tenure, Ganobhaban was transformed into the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum to preserve photographs, documents and other artefacts related to the July uprising and its historical significance.