The Language Martyr Abdus Salam Library and Memorial Museum was established to honour a gallant hero who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of his mother tongue.
But the sad truth is that other than a single portrait of the martyr, the museum does not have any other memorabilia pertaining to the historic 1952 Language Movement or the valiant son of the soil.
The museum was built on 12-Decimal land in 2008 at a cost of Tk63 lakh at the birthplace of Abdus Salam—Salam Nagar village under Matubhuiyan union in Daganbhuiyan upazila of Feni district.
In the beginning the library struggled to acquire relevant books, catalogues, newspapers and periodicals, reports Bangla Tribune.
On a recent visit, this correspondent saw the library shelves filled with books on history, Bangladesh's freedom movement, philosophy, literature, religion, poetry, and novels as well as numerous biographies of reputed individuals.
But an observation of the books makes it seem that they have never been read.
Currently, a librarian and a guard are there to look after the place, which sadly very few people visit these days.
Librarian Lutfur Rahman said: “The library is opened regularly but due to its remote location and poor road infrastructure, very few people visit it these days.
“Every year on February21, officials of government and non-government organizations come to the Shaheed Minar next to the museum to lay wreaths. A discussion is also organised at the initiative of the upazila administration.”
Abdur Razzak Harun, a local union council member, said: “The road leading to the museum has been in a dilapidated condition for a long time. The main road from Matubhuiyan Bridge to Salam Memorial Museum has largely been washed away by river erosion. Last year, local MP Masud Uddin Chowdhury promised to repair the road but could not keep his word.”
Abdul Karim, brother of Shaheed Salam, called on the government to establish a high school at Salam Nagar. “Such an initiative will preserve Salam’s memory and ensure that local teenagers don’t have to go far for high schooling.
“Besides, locals have demanded a park here along with a renovation of the museum, so that people from home and abroad can learn about the language martyr and the Language Movement when they visit.”
Abu Daud Md Golam Mostafa, Chief Executive of the District Council, said: “It’s true that the museum doesn’t have any memorabilia on language martyr Abdul Salam. But there never were any plans to keep any memorabilia from the Language Movement here.”
Deputy Commissioner Wahiduzzaman that educational institutions at the district and upazila levels had been encouraged to take their students on field trips to visit the Language Martyr Abdus Salam Library and Memorial Museum. “I hope that will be possible once schools across the country reopen.”
He also said that the district administration had taken an initiative to set up a park in the vicinity but the necessary land could not be acquired.
Short biography of Shaheed Salam
Salam was born on November 27, 1925 in Laxmanpur village (now Salam Nagar) of Matubhuiyan union in Daganbhuna upazila of Feni. Salam was the eldest of four brothers and three sisters.
On February 21, 1952, students in Dhaka defied Section 144, clamping restrictions on gatherings of people, and brought out rallies in support of the demand for making Bengali the state language of Pakistan.
The processions were joined by other members of the public.. The police fired on the procession, killing a number of protesters and wounding others. Salam, who was in the procession, was shot.
He was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where he died from his injuries on April 7,1952. He was buried in Azimpur graveyard. The location of his grave has since been lost.