Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has instructed his advisers to expedite the construction of a museum dedicated to the July-August mass uprising at the Gonobhaban in Dhaka.
This significant move comes as part of a broader effort to honour the nationwide protest that culminated in the ousting of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, whose 15-year rule, centred around Gonobhaban, has become emblematic of repression and brutal governance.
Dr Yunus issued these directives during his visit to Gonobhaban on Monday (28 October).
The site has since transformed into a powerful symbol of resistance and the people's struggle for justice.
"The museum should preserve the memories of her misrule and the anger that people expressed when they ousted her from power," remarked Professor Yunus while surveying the premises.
On 5 August, hundreds of thousands of protesters surged into Gonobhaban just moments after Hasina fled Bangladesh to seek refuge in India.
Demonstrators marked their outrage on the walls and within the rooms of the Gonobhaban, inscribing graffiti and protest notes, including phrases like "Khuni Hasina" [killer Hasina], reflecting their profound dissatisfaction with her administration.
Professor Yunus further emphasised the importance of reconstructing a replica of the infamous "Aynaghar" (House of Mirrors), a site where Hasina’s security agencies allegedly detained hundreds of dissidents and opposition activists in secrecy.
"The Aynaghar should remind visitors of the tortures suffered by these secret prisoners," he stated, underscoring the museum's role in recounting the grim realities of Hasina's regime.
Accompanying Professor Yunus during the visit were advisers Adilur Rahman Khan, Nahid Islam, and Asif Mahmud.
Professor Yunus instructed them to engage with museum experts to ensure that the proposals for the memorial are finalised by December this year.
Nahid Islam affirmed that the misdeeds of the Hasina administration, dating back to 2009, will be preserved with precision.
He revealed that discussions are underway with international experts to draw insights from memorials commemorating revolutions and uprisings in other nations.
Mahfuj Alam, the special assistant to the chief adviser, was also present during this visit.
