Opposition Chief Whip and National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam today alleged that exhibits depicting “Indian aggression” have been removed from the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum, claiming that the BNP is “afraid of India.”
He made the remarks at the premises of the museum, at what used to be Gono Bhaban, the official residence of the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Earlier today, Nahid, along with a delegation of over 50 NCP leaders, visited the museum.
Nahid, who was a key coordinator of the Students Against Discrimination which spearheaded the July Uprising, said there was a specific segment on border killings in the museum.
“There was a list of our brothers and sisters killed by the Indian BSF at the borders, along with a sculpture of Felani. Those have been removed. Some memories and photos of the anti-Modi movement have also been taken down,” he added.
Replying to a query from journalists, he said the BNP might be afraid of India. “If they weren’t afraid, why would something that is a part of history be excluded?” he questioned.
After touring the museum, Nahid held a half-hour meeting with the museum authorities from 10:30am before speaking to the press.
Noting that he had advocated extensively both inside and outside the parliament for the museum’s opening, Nahid said he previously inspected the site during the interim government’s tenure. He mentioned that Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, current leader of the opposition and the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, Shafiqur Rahman, and former chief adviser to the interim government Prof Muhammad Yunus were also present that day.
He alleged that the current government has changed the museum’s original plans.
Nahid further claimed that the current state of the museum disproportionately highlights the oppression faced by the BNP as a party, increasing their partisan narratives and statements.
Advocating for the museum’s autonomy, Nahid said the history of the Liberation War had been politicised. “Every time a new party came to power, textbooks and history were changed. We want the history, narrative, and the museum related to the July Uprising to retain a national character. The absolute truth must be presented there.”
He added that the segments highlighting the July Uprising should be more elaborate, and the narrative should follow a timeline. “In particular, the roles of private university and madrasa students should be highlighted separately, which is missing [in the museum].”
He said there are identical stories of torture, brutality, and resistance from various universities outside Dhaka and in different districts. Those aspects have not been included. Only familiar faces have been repeatedly highlighted.
He also commented that the museum should be operated by those who participated in and embody the spirit of the mass uprising.
During the visit, Nahid were accompanied by NCP lawmakers Akhter Hossen, Abdullah Al Amin and Nusrat Tabassum; central leaders Sarjis Alam, Sarwar Tushar, SM Saif Mostafiz, and Mahin Sarker; Jatiya Jubo Shakti Convener Tariqul Islam; Jatiya Chhatra Shakti President Jahid Ahsan and General Secretary Abu Baker Majumder among others.
Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/news/politics/news/nahid-alleges-indian-aggression-exhibits-removed-july-museum-4242856
