Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday afternoon visited the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum at Ganabhaban, Dhaka to review the progress of its final-stage construction.
Political leaders accompanying him included BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Dr Shafiqur Rahman, and National Citizens Party Convener Nahid Islam.
According to the chief adviser’s Press Wing, Yunus arrived at the museum around 3pm, touring exhibits that documented the history of the July Mass Uprising and images portraying 16 years of governance under ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Also present were Culture Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul, Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, Home Adviser Jahangir Alam, Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, Chief Adviser’s SDG Coordinator Lamya Morshed, and Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works Md Nazrul Islam.
Families of enforced disappearance victims, represented by Sanjida Tuli of the organization “Mayer Dak,” returned abduction victim Barrister Mir Ahmad bin Quasem Arman, and student leaders Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan and Hasnat Abdullah, who led the frontlines of the July uprising, were also present.
Under the guidance of Cultural Affaira Adviser Farooki, museum curators Tanzim Wahab, Merina Tabassum Khan, researchers, and other responsible officials conducted a full tour. The museum preserves photographs of the uprising, various memorabilia, clothes of martyrs, letters, important documents, newspaper clippings, audio-visual material, and the scene of then ousted PM Sheikh Hasina fleeing the country.
During the visit, Yunus watched a 15-minute documentary produced by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, which highlighted enforced disappearances, state-led repression, attacks on opponents, and mass killings during the July 1971 uprising under fascist rule.
Commenting on the museum, Yunus said: “This museum could be created while the blood of the July martyrs was still fresh; this is an unprecedented example worldwide. We do not want there to be a need for such a museum in the future. If our nation ever becomes directionless, it will find its way here.”
He urged citizens, especially students, to spend time at the museum to learn about the atrocities the nation endured. “The mirror rooms allow visitors to experience what prisoners faced and reflect on how we can prevent such atrocities in the future,” he said.
Yunus also praised the youth and students who resisted the oppressive regime. “They had no weapons, nothing at all, yet they stood fearlessly and courageously. This teaches us that ordinary people can resist oppression when needed.”
He thanked Adviser Farooki and everyone involved in the museum’s work. Farooki said: “It is a record that the museum has reached this stage in such a short time. Many worked for eight months without pay. Some sections will be completed soon and opened to the public before the election. The July Museum will stand as a historical mark, reflecting Bangladesh’s past, present, and future politics, and will play a key role in future political discourse, education, research, and the arts.”
