Bangabhaban, the official residence of the President, has many historic sections and corridors. Among them is Toshakhana or treasure-house about which a few people are aware of. But now all will have the opportunity to see what amazing gifts it actually store in it, reports UNB.
The government has decided to shift the Toshakhana from the presidential palace so that general people can visit it easily and see what sorts of gifts are deposited in it, what they are valued at and who deposited what.
Usually, President, Prime Minister, ministers, bureaucrats and dignitaries receive gifts on their trips abroad or at home, and they are supposed to deposit all those to the Toshakhana.
"Yes, Toshakhana will be relocated to a new place from Bangabhaban. In the Toshakhana (Maintenance and Administration) Rule-1974 it was said that the Toshakhana would be housed in a separate place. In the law it was also said until the building of separate treasure house, it will be housed in the Bangabhaban," cabinet secretary M Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told the news agency.
Bangabhaban sources said the Toshakhana is housed at the Manuk House where invaluable gift items such as the Earth of the Moon, the Flag of Bangladesh that was carried to the moon, 75 tola exquisite gold sheathe of the damascene sword from gulf states, an ivory boat and other noteworthy things have been deposited in it.
The cabinet secretary said a committee, headed by cabinet division additional secretary Main Uddin, has been formed for the location of the Toshakhana. "The committee will select a place for the Toshakhana."
Mosharraf also said, "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a cabinet meeting directed the officials concerned to set up the Toshakhana in between Novo Theatre and Military Museum at Bijoy Sharani. We've also alternatively chosen adjacent areas to Bangabhaban if there is any problem in setting up it at Bijoy Sharani. If it is built in the adjoining areas of the Bangabhaban, then the PM's permission will be required."
