‘Fear of India?’: Nahid questions removal of Felani, anti-Modi images from July Museum

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam has alleged that memorials of Felani Khatun, information on border killings and photographs documenting anti-Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi protests have been removed from the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum at Ganabhaban in Dhaka.

Nahid visited the museum on Saturday morning with several central leaders of his party. After touring the exhibits, he questioned whether the BNP government had removed the historical materials “out of fear of India” after coming to power.

“When we, including Dr Muhammad Yunus, visited the museum during the previous interim government, there were memorials of the Felani killing, lists and information on Bangladeshis killed by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) along the border, and important photographs from the anti-Modi movement. But today, I could not find any of them,” he told reporters.

He also questioned whether the BNP was pursuing a policy of appeasing India.

“They say Bangladesh comes first. If they have no fear, why were these issues, which are part of our history, removed?” he asked.

Nahid said India had both direct and indirect involvement in the authoritarian and “fascist” rule that was established in Bangladesh over the past 16 years. But the current presentation at the museum gives the impression that the July uprising was solely an internal or domestic matter, which he said leaves a major gap in the historical narrative.

He said the government might be seeking to strengthen ties with India by leaving out such information. “Whatever our relationship with India—good or bad—it must always be based on dignity. Bangladesh’s independence, sovereignty and democracy cannot be protected through compromise,” he said.

Nahid also called for the museum to remain free from political influence and said the history of the July uprising should not be confined to any particular political party or a few prominent figures.

He said the museum should properly recognise the contributions of protesters from districts and upazilas outside Dhaka, as well as students from private universities and madrasas.

He also called for the museum to be established as an independent and autonomous institution through legislation, outside the government bureaucracy. Given its national importance, he said, at least 200 trained staff should be recruited, including students and researchers who were involved in the movement.

Nahid further called for modern museum facilities, including audio guides and trained guides, to help visitors understand the historical context of the exhibits.