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Published : 10 Jul 2025, 03:55 PM
A July Martyrs’ Memorial Monument is being constructed atop the wreckage of the Awami League office in Faridpur.
Local Public Works Department (PWD) Executive Engineer Saifuz Zaman said the initial construction work on the monument began on Wednesday morning.
He noted that the July Martyrs’ Memorials are being built nationwide under a uniform government budget. In Faridpur, the work is being done by a contractor through direct procurement. The project is expected to be completed before Aug 5.
However, he said he did not know the exact budget allocation for the work.
The site, formerly home to the district Awami League office, is on the north end of Hasibul Hasan Lablu Road in Faridpur town and is owned by the district administration.
On Sept 14, 2021, a 26-decimal land was leased from the district administration on a one-time settlement basis to Shamim Haque under the name of Sheikh Russel Foundation. He was later elected president of the district Awami League.
Known locally as Sheikh Russel Square, the site housed both the Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra and the district Awami League office.
The office was inaugurated on Jul 24, 2023, by two Awami League presidium members, Kazi Zafarullah and Abdur Rahman.
About a year later, on Aug 4 last year, angry protestors vandalised and set fire to the office during the final phase of the July Uprising.
The next day, on Aug 5, following the fall of the Awami League government, a second wave of attacks left the building in ruins.
During Ramadan and Eid-ul-Azha this year, the site was temporarily used as a low-cost goods distribution centre for the poor.
On Wednesday noon, the remaining structure of the office was being demolished with hammers by seven construction workers under the supervision of contractor Sohan Al Mamun.
He said they were assigned by the PWD and are trying to finish the project within the deadline.
Faridpur Deputy Director (Acting) Shohrub Hossain told reporters that the government has launched the initiative to build July Martyrs’ Memorials across the country. As part of this project, the deputy commissioner, superintendent of police, PWD executive engineer, and Sadar Upazila executive officer visited several potential sites in Faridpur town on Monday.
They examined places such as the current construction site, the area near the old bus terminal, and the Rajbari Road intersection. After evaluating safety and suitability, the former Awami League office site was deemed the most appropriate.
He added, “Floral tributes will be offered at the newly built memorial platform during the celebration of July Uprising Day on Aug 5.”
