Suhrawardy Udyan is a witness to many of our historic events. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman voiced the call for independence of Bangladesh from this place. It was here that the occupation Pakistani forces surrendered to the joint command of the Mukti Bahini and the Indian Army in December 1971, which resulted in the emergence of independent Bangladesh at the end of a nine-month bloody war.
However, visitors who come to visit this historic place know little about its significance. They along with their families gather here in the afternoon mainly for spending sometime together in an open space. And for the rest of the day, the close to four hundred-year-old Udyan remains a safe haven for homeless people, drug addicts in unhygienic conditions.
There is an underground museum beneath the Independence Monument (Glass Tower) at the historic Suhrawardy Uddyan. However, only a few people know about the museum due to a lack of publicity. Even many visitors do not notice the museum since there is no billboard or sign that points to the museum. The museum containing 144 glass-framed photographs of the 1971 liberation war opened to the public in 2015. But it hardly sees visitors because of its lack of publicity. Those who have visited the museum complained of poor lighting, ventilation and water supply. If these issues are fixed and people are made aware of the underground museum, a large number of people will visit this museum every day.
Afroza Sheikh,
Dania, Dhaka,
ilcbd2008@gmail.com
Putting Independence Museum under spotlight
FE Team | Published: July 12, 2022 19:13:32
Putting Independence Museum under spotlight
Share if you like