From sacred to shattered: Vandalism, neglect leave Bangladesh’s Independence Museum in dust and debris

The Independence Museum, located in Dhaka’s Suhrawardy Udyan, now stands as a broken remnant of its former self. Once a beacon of Bangladesh’s history, the museum has fallen victim to severe neglect and vandalism.

Shards of broken glass from photo frames litter the floor. Scorched plaster from fire damage hangs precariously, and a pungent smell of burnt material lingers in the air. Dirt and debris are scattered across the museum’s halls, creating a scene that feels more like an abandoned ruin than a national treasure.

This once-proud institution, now closed indefinitely, was first obstructed by a security guard citing closure orders. However, with higher authority's permission, an unfortunate visit revealed the full extent of the damage. The museum is situated underground, and from the outside, it was hard to imagine the devastation inside.

The building is riddled with signs of destruction, from torn-up photo prints to charred remnants of photographs scattered across the floor.

In one gallery, parts of a tank, used during the Liberation War, lie abandoned on the floor, while the building itself is devoid of any electrical power.

ONCE PRESERVED, NOW LOST

From the Mughal period to the Victory Day of 1971, the museum housed different artefacts and photographs documenting key events in Bangladesh's history.

It was here that Bangladesh's founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his famous speech on Mar 7, 1971, and it was also the site where the Pakistani army surrendered on Dec 16, marking the birth of an independent Bangladesh.

Opened to the public on March 25, 2015, on the 44th Independence Day anniversary, the museum was managed under the Bangladesh National Museum’s authority.

It was part of a larger, carefully planned design around Suhrawardy Udyan, which included an amphitheatre, three water bodies, Shikha Chirantan or eternal flame where the Pakistani forces formally surrendered in 1971, and a mural depicting the struggle for independence.

The centrepiece of the design was the 50-metre “Independence Pillar” made of glass panels, situated directly above the museum.

Bangladesh's first and only underground museum, the Independence Museum, spans 5,669 square metres.

However, even the terracotta mural along the plaza’s eastern wall has been damaged, and the fountain on top of the water body has also been dismantled.

Designed by Bangladeshi architects Kashef Mahbub Chowdhury and Marina Tabassum in 1997, the museum was part of a competition-winning architectural plan, with an estimated construction cost of Tk 1.75 billion.

The museum once housed over 300 historical photographs on 144 glass panels, along with terracotta and war-related newspaper clippings.

There were also replicas of international media coverage supporting the Liberation War and posters created for global outreach.

One of the prominent features was the Asrupat fountain, located at the centre of a circular room, with water continually flowing through a hole, symbolising the tears of the mothers and women who suffered during the war.

This fountain, however, is now closed.

The museum also displayed important artefacts, such as a replica of the table on which Pakistani Lt Gen AAK Niazi signed the surrender document on Dec 16, 1971.

Items used by freedom fighters, including parts of cannons, were also displayed here, but now these too lie destroyed in the ruins.

The statue of Bangabandhu and other significant relics are now gone.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Md Golam Kausar, assistant keeper of the Department of History and Classical Art at the National Museum, is the officer in charge of the Independence Museum.

He told bdnews24.com, "On Aug 5, a group of agitated students and the public vandalised and looted the museum.

“I informed the authorities about the incident on the 5th. A police complaint and a case have been filed,” he said.

“The museum is now open and closed intermittently, just to keep it operational. Otherwise, by now, snakes and scorpions would have taken refuge inside," he added.

Hayat Ali, an Ansar member on duty at Suhrawardy Udyan's “Shikha Chirantan” area on Saturday, said the museum was closed.

He added, "We were not present on Aug 5. The vandalism happened that day, and we saw the damage when we arrived."

Mafiur Rahman Mahi, a security guard at the National Museum, said the museum has been closed indefinitely.

“We are only here to ensure no one else enters. Many come and ask if they can go inside, but we tell them 'no’."

Md Shamim, another Ansar member responsible for security, also confirmed the closure.

He said looting had occurred after the vandalism on Aug 5, although he could not specify who was responsible for the acts.

Historian and Liberation War researcher Salek Khokon expressed his concern to bdnews24.com: "The Liberation War is a settled truth for the nation. It should not be tampered with. The question arises—what will my legacy be if we distort history? We need to reveal this historical truth to future generations."

He also said, "History can never be altered. How much respect we give depends on perspective and generosity. In this day and age, nothing can be hidden from the current generation. They will eventually uncover the real history. It is deeply unfortunate and tragic that the Independence Museum has been destroyed."

PLANS EXIST, BUT NO IMMEDIATE HOPE FOR REOPENING

The Independence Museum operates under the National Museum, which falls under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

When asked about plans for the museum, Cultural Affairs Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki said he was "busy" and suggested contacting the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs instead.

The implementation of the museum project, including the entire site, was initially under the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs.

However, all museums in the country are managed by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

Multiple calls to Pranab Kumar Saha, the director of the third phase of the Suhrawardy Udyan Independence Monument project, went unanswered.

Md Abdul Moktader, joint secretary of the Department of Archaeology and Museums under the cultural affairs ministry, told bdnews24.com: "There is a plan. An on-site investigation has been conducted, and damages have been assessed. The necessary actions are ongoing."

He advised contacting the National Museum for details on the extent of the damage and future plans.

Although National Museum Director General Nafriza Shayma confirmed plans to reopen the museum, she could not provide a specific timeline.

She also serves as additional secretary of the Department of Archaeology and Museums.

Asked about a reopening timeline, Marina Tabassum, chairperson of the National Museum's trustee board, told bdnews24.com: "Our board was formed only recently. We are reviewing all museums, and this one needs to be restored. We cannot leave it abandoned."

Marina, one of the museum's two architects, said: "This is part of our plan, and there are maintenance issues to address. Our board meeting is after Eid, where we will discuss how to restore and reopen it properly."

However, Kausar, the officer in charge of the museum, said reopening is unlikely anytime soon.

"As it is an underground museum, no operations can continue without electricity. The power lines are completely out of order. Even if the government allocates funds, the tender process alone would take at least three months.

"Once reopened, exhibits must also be arranged for visitors. The ministry will decide on everything, but the entire process will take more time," he said.

[Writing in English by Arshi Fatiha Quazi]