July Memorial Museum to Open on August 5

 

 

July Memorial Museum to Open on August 5 Despite Unfinished Staff Recruitment

DHAKA — The July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum, established at the former Ganabhaban—the official residence of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina—is set to open on August 5, despite pending staff recruitment and lingering questions over procurement and project transparency.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to inaugurate the museum, marking one year since the July 2025 mass uprising that led to Sheikh Hasina's removal from power. Authorities say final preparations are in progress, with temporary personnel expected to manage operations until permanent staff are appointed.

Museum to Open as Scheduled

The museum has been created at Ganabhaban, which served as Sheikh Hasina's official residence for nearly 15 years before she fled to India during the July uprising. Following her departure, protesters entered the compound, leaving the property heavily damaged through vandalism and looting.

Speaking on Sunday, Tanzim Wahab, Director General of both the National Museum and the July Memorial Museum, confirmed that the museum would open as planned on August 5.

Although permanent recruitment has not been completed, he said arrangements for visitor security, ticketing, and day-to-day operations are being finalized. Initially, staff will be hired through outsourcing while recruitment continues.

Project Cost and Funding

The museum project received a total government allocation of Tk 1.23 billion, with Tk 1.10 billion spent on construction, restoration, exhibitions, and related work. According to officials, the remaining Tk 125.3 million was returned to the state treasury.

For the 2026–27 fiscal year, the museum has been allocated an operational budget of Tk 175 million.

The Public Works Department oversaw repairs to the damaged buildings and infrastructure, while the National Museum managed exhibition design, artwork acquisition, documentary production, gallery development, interior decoration, and procurement of equipment and furniture.

Procurement Faces Scrutiny

The project has attracted criticism over procurement practices and spending.

Media reports alleged irregularities, including the use of direct procurement, inflated costs for sculptures, documentaries and hospitality, questions surrounding contractor selection, and other financial concerns. Museum authorities have repeatedly rejected the allegations.

Responding to the criticism, Tanzim Wahab said all work followed government regulations and verification procedures. However, he acknowledged that the accelerated timeline required to meet the opening deadline resulted in processes that were "not ideal."

He also noted that the Public Works Department has yet to formally hand over the completed facility and that a final audit has not been conducted.

Recruitment Controversy

The museum's recruitment process has also drawn criticism.

Under the museum's service rules, written examinations are mandatory for appointments. However, authorities initially sought to recruit 96 employees for 62 positions through oral examinations and skills assessments only, giving applicants just seven days to apply.

Following public criticism, the oral examination process was cancelled.

Currently, 18 National Museum officials are serving on additional duty to ensure the museum can begin operations on schedule.

Transparency Concerns

To meet the planned August 5 opening deadline, the government approved direct procurement under emergency provisions of the Public Procurement Act and Rules.

The decision prompted criticism from Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), whose Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman argued that bypassing competitive tendering weakened transparency and accountability while increasing the risk of favoritism and financial irregularities.

Museum authorities maintain that the expedited procurement process was necessary to complete the project within the required timeframe.

From Official Residence to National Memorial

Located in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, the 17.68-acre Ganabhaban complex has undergone a dramatic transformation from the prime minister's residence into a memorial dedicated to documenting the July mass uprising and alleged human rights abuses during the previous government.

The museum will feature exhibits on enforced disappearances, torture, political repression, and the events surrounding the July uprising. Displays will include personal belongings of victims, historical documents recovered from Ganabhaban, artworks, and memorabilia linked to those who lost their lives.

New facilities include landscaped walkways, expanded lakes, a food court, souvenir shop, prayer room, visitor amenities, and a symbolic "House of Mirrors" installation consisting of 22 cells.

Authorities have also created memorials honoring nearly 4,000 victims of enforced disappearances and political killings, including those connected to the July uprising, the Shapla Square incident, and the BDR mutiny. More than 2,500 symbolic graves have already been constructed.

The museum houses 62 documentaries across 19 themes, including films chronicling the country's authoritarian period and archival footage of Sheikh Hasina's departure from Bangladesh.

Calls for Public Access

Museum board member Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdho, whose twin brother Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho was killed during the July uprising, said the museum should open without further delay.

He said the institution would preserve the memory of those who sacrificed their lives and help future generations understand the oppression and injustices that led to the uprising.

While the museum's opening has been delayed several times over the past year, authorities say it is now on track to welcome visitors on August 5, even as staffing, auditing, and administrative issues remain unresolved.