A treasure trove has opened for those who want to get a clear understanding of the country’s history and fight for independence, and the life and struggle of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The ‘Mujib and Independence’, a gallery of photographs and video clips of historic events which has been established at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in the capital, offers a captivating journey through time, under a single roof.
When one traverses the gallery, he/she will feel like walking through history. The entire gallery is adorned with many sculptures and paintings by famous artists and photographs of legendary photographers from home and abroad.
Besides, many paper cuttings from home and abroad containing different historically important events and documents have been put on display at the gallery to portray the real history. Besides, there are audiovisual presentations of historic events.
The ‘Mujib and Independence’ gallery is a unique attempt to preserve and spread the history of Bangladesh’s great Liberation War and independence under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the greatest Bangalee of all time and the great architect of independence, from generation to generation.
The exhibition begins with a graphical presentation on the ancient history of this delta land. Then one can learn about Bangabandhu’s childhood and adolescence, from childhood to becoming ‘Mujib Bhai’ in his youth, the partition of India and the establishment of Pakistan, the turbulent Language Movement and the change in the political landscape of the 1950s, the Six-point Movement, Bangalee’s emancipation charter, the Mass Uprising of the 1969 and the historic election of 1970.
Starting from the context of victory in the historic election of 1970, the flow of events has progressed towards the history of the great Liberation War of 1971.
Bangabandhu’s historic 7 March Speech, mass killings by Pakistani occupation forces on 25 March, the proclamation of independence in the early hours of 26 March 1971, the relentless struggle of people from all walks of life during the nine-month bloody war and sacrifices of freedom fighters and heroes have been depicted in the gallery.One can also know the heroic contribution of the freedom fighters along with the glorious victory of Bangladesh. The golden history of Bangabandhu’s homecoming, reconstruction of the war-torn country and consolidation of Bangladesh’s identity in the international arena has also been presented nicely in the gallery.
Bangabandhu’s political life and ideals, his life in prison, leadership in the War of Independence, formation of the provisional government and contribution of the four national leaders, information on gallantry-awarded freedom fighters, including Bir Shreshtha, contribution of Biranganas and Bangabandhu’s compassion towards them like own children and the history of refugees, among others, have been highlighted in the gallery on 8,000 square feet.
The idea of setting up the gallery was conceived by Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury.
This is her dream project, which was implemented by Spellbound Communications Limited and funded by the Public Works Department, said Project Director Architect Nandanangshu Purkayastha Dhrubo.
He also said, “Many artists, including Jihan Karim, Masuk Helal, Studio Tokai, Anik Bhowmik and Ahamed Suprotim, have worked on the project. It took 11 months to complete the work.”
Prime Minister and Leader of the House Sheikh Hasina, also the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu, inaugurated the ‘Mujib and Independence’ gallery on the ground floor of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban recently.
After the inauguration, she also went round the gallery and signed the visitors’ book.
Highly praising the gallery, the prime minister congratulated all, including the Speaker, for establishing it at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
