Unprotected memories: Mismanagement overshadows July Museum’s debut

A lack of proper management and insufficient staffing have overshadowed the opening days of the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum, formerly the official residence of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

In front of Hasina’s former bedroom, a swing has been installed with sculptures of three children, Jabir Ibrahim, Abdul Ahad, and Riya Gop, who were killed during the July Uprising.

During a visit to the museum on Thursday, a child accompanying his parents attempted to sit on the swing, causing the sculptures to topple face-down onto the floor.

Throughout this reporter’s stay, no museum official came forward to restore the sculptures to their original positions.

Similar scenes were visible across the museum, with several exhibition rooms appearing unattended and valuable artifacts left without adequate protection.

Tahmid Mahfuz Farabi, a second-year student at Suhrawardy Medical College, travelled from Mirpur to visit the museum on its second day after inauguration by the Prime Minister.

Farabi said he had expected a more organized and professionally managed institution.

“They could have done better in terms of management. There is no staff to guide visitors through the museum,” he said.

At the museum’s main entrance, officials struggled to manage the hundreds of visitors who arrived Thursday morning to explore the newly inaugurated memorial and learn about the history of the July Uprising.

Authorities were forced to temporarily suspend the issuance of offline passes due to the overwhelming crowd.

Shamsuddin Nuri, a security official stationed at the main gate, said staff members were unable to manage the large number of visitors because of a shortage of personnel.

“We don’t have adequate staff to manage so many visitors,” he said.

Former Cultural Affairs Adviser to the interim government Mostofa Sarwar Farooki welcomed the large turnout, calling it an encouraging sign.

“It melts my heart to see this!” he wrote in a Facebook post.

However, he criticized the government’s slow progress in preparing the museum for visitors.

“Friends in the government, for heaven’s sake, change your lazy approach—intentional or unintentional—and equip the museum with museum explainers immediately. Every second counts!” he wrote.

He also urged the Prime Minister’s Office to investigate who was responsible for delays in the recruitment and deployment process over the past several months.

Tanzim Ibne Wahab, Director General of the National Museum, is currently overseeing operations at the July Museum as an additional responsibility.

He said 20 National Museum staff members from Shahbag are currently working at the museum on additional duty, as permanent employees have not yet been recruited. Another 20 volunteers, mostly researchers and documentation assistants involved in developing the museum, are also assisting, while police and Ansar personnel have been deployed for security.

On July 29, the government appointed Mohammad Kamruzzaman, a joint secretary, as the museum’s new Director General (DG). However, he has yet to assume the post and may not eventually take charge.

Tanzim said the museum would begin recruiting student volunteers from schools and colleges next Saturday to serve as explainers who can narrate the history of the July Uprising to visitors.

He added that the recruitment process would begin within the next two weeks under the direction of the 15-member management board.