A move is underway to establish Bangabandhu Military Museum modernising the existing Military Museum in the capital's Bijoy Sarani area, aiming to collect, preserve and exhibit the real history of the Liberation War, reports UNB. The museum will be established aiming to showcase the immense courage and bravery of the people of Bangladesh during the Liberation War, said a Planning Commission official.
The official said that Works Directorate, Engineer in Chief Branch, Army Headquarters under the Defense Ministry proposed a draft project titled 'Establishment of Bangabandhu Military Museum' to the Planning Commission to this end at an estimated cost of Tk 276 crore to be implemented by December 2019.
"The entire fund will come from the state exchequer and the proposed project is under active consideration of the Planning Commission," added the official.
The official said that the museum would be able to give real and accurate information to the country's people, including the new generation, about the history, tradition, achievements, and other development related aspects of the Bangladesh Armed Forces side by side displaying and preserving those for acquiring knowledge and conducting research.
The proposed museum would be built on some 10 acres of land on the west side of Bangabandhu Novo Theatre.
The main project works include construction of an eight-storey main museum building including two-storey basement, constructing physical facilities, ensuring external power supply including installation of high-powered generators, procurement of furniture, land development, testing soil and consultancy.
When contacted, another official at the Ministry of Defense preferring anonymity said that different foreign military personnel,
VIPs in the country, NDCs, and other trainees from the staff college usually visit the existing Military Museum.
"Side by side, the number of visitors from different schools, colleges and universities is also increasing day by day. Under the
circumstances, the place for the existing Military Museum has been selected for the establishment of Bangabandhu Military Museum,” he said.
The official said that the Bangladesh Armed Forces alongside the people of the country has a great history and tradition during the war of liberation and various efforts are on to reach the real history of war of liberation to the common people.
Based on the contributions of the Armed Forces, the Military Museum was first established in 1987 at Mirpur Cantonment and thus the museum's main purpose was to collect, preserve and exhibit the history, heritage, success and progress of the Armed Forces, including Bangladesh Army.
Then to showcase the contributions of the Armed Forces during the War of Liberation, the Military Museum was shifted to Bijoy Sarani in 1997-98.
Following that a fresh initiative was undertaken in 2009 to modernize the Military museum as a Modernisation Committee was formed in 2010 with the then Army Chief as its head incorporating representatives from other Forces.
The Committee then recommended for establishing a world-class military museum titled 'Bangabandhu Military Museum'.