Dhaka: Foreign diplomats based in Dhaka today visited the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum, days before it is set to open for public. During their visit, Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki briefed the diplomats and guided them through the museum’s key sections, said the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing this evening.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the two-hour visit began with the diplomats observing a minute’s silence in memory of the nearly 4,000 people who were martyred during the fascist regime of Sheikh Hasina. Farooki emphasized that the July Museum plans to collaborate with similar institutions worldwide to prevent the recurrence of such misrule, not only in Bangladesh but globally.
Foreign Adviser M Touhid Hossain, who was also present, highlighted that the museum reflects the people’s struggle against Sheikh Hasina’s misrule. “The museum showcases the climax of the 36 days of the July uprising, but it also highlights the elements of years of misrule,” he said, noting that the true lesson of history is to ensure it is not repeated.
Chief Curator of the July Museum, Tanzim Wahab, provided a detailed overview of the museum’s features to the visiting diplomats and guests. Michael Miller, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh, remarked on the significance of understanding history and the genesis of the 2024 mass uprising in Bangladesh.
Distinguished members of the diplomatic corps in attendance included ambassadors and representatives from countries such as Algeria, Argentina, Bhutan, Denmark, Egypt, France, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kosovo, Libya, Morocco, Nepal, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Trkiye, and the United States, among others.
Also present were representatives from international organizations and development networks, including the Aga Khan Development Network, Asian Development Bank, BIMSTEC, CIRDAP, FAO, International Fertilizer Development Center, International Organization for Migration, UNESCO, UNHCR, World Food Programme, and UNOPS.
The July Museum, located in Ganabhaban, the former residence of ousted autocrat Sheikh Hasina, is set for a soft opening next week, marking a significant milestone in preserving the history of Bangladesh’s mass uprisings.