Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has said that the Zia Memorial Museum will be renovated soon and restored properly to preserve its historical significance.
He made the remarks on Friday after visiting the museum located in the Kazir Dewri area of Chittagong.
During the visit, he inspected various sections of the museum while officials briefed him on its current infrastructural condition.
On May 30, 1981, then President and founder of the BNP Ziaur Rahman was killed in the early hours of the morning at Chittagong Circuit House by a group of mutinous army personnel. The building was later converted into the Zia Memorial Museum.
The minister expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of the historic site, saying it is not in good shape. He noted that the structure is an old and visually significant heritage building of Chittagong, but lack of maintenance has led to multiple infrastructural problems. He also warned of potential further damage in the incident of an earthquake.
He further described Ziaur Rahman as the “declarer of Bangladesh’s independence” and said the site holds deep historical and emotional significance for the nation. Emphasizing the importance of preservation, he noted that Bangladesh has a limited number of such heritage structures and urged urgent attention to safeguard them.
The minister stressed the need for immediate corrective measures, reiterating that preserving such historical sites is essential for future generations and for protecting the country’s historical legacy.
Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has said that priority will be given to the infrastructural renovation of the Zia Memorial Museum, stressing that no renovation or redesign work can proceed without first addressing its existing structural condition.
He noted that long-standing infrastructural problems of the facility have remained unresolved for years and that urgent steps will now be taken to address them. He added that subsequent phases of development will be implemented gradually in a planned manner.
The remarks were made in the presence of Chittagong Divisional Commissioner Md Ziauddin, Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah, and administrative officer of the Zia Memorial Museum Arpita Das Gupta.