National

Yunus orders expediting construction of museum at Ganabhaban

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has directed his advisers to expedite construction of a museum at Ganabhaban to honour the July-August mass uprising. 

Yunus issued the directive while visiting the former Dhaka residence of ousted dictator Sheikh Hasina, a site that has come to symbolise her 15 years of oppressive rule, according to the Chief Adviser's Press Wing.

"The museum must preserve the memory of her misrule and the public's intense reaction that ultimately led to her ouster," Yunus said during his inspection of the palace ruins. 

On August 5, hundreds of thousands stormed Ganabhaban after Hasina fled to India, leaving behind walls and rooms marked with graffiti and messages like "Khuni Hasina" (Killer Hasina).

Yunus also proposed a replica of the "Aynaghar" (Mirror House) where Hasina’s security agencies allegedly detained and tortured opposition activists. 

"The Aynaghar should serve as a reminder of the suffering endured by those imprisoned in secrecy," he said.

Advisers Adilur Rahman Khan, Nahid Islam, and Asif Mahmud, along with special assistant Mahfuj Alam, accompanied Yunus on his visit. He tasked them to consult with museum experts and finalise proposals by December.

Nahid Islam, a former student leader turned adviser, emphasised that the museum would chronicle the abuses of Hasina’s regime, starting in 2009. 

He added that consultations with international experts were underway to gain insights on creating memorials that commemorate revolutions and uprisings.