Farooki visits Independence Museum left in ruins after vandalism

Cultural Affairs Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has visited the Independence Museum at Dhaka's Suhrawardy Udyan, which was left in ruins following vandalism and looting amid celebrations marking the fall of the Awami League government last year.

He emphasised the need for collective and concerted efforts from all stakeholders to restore and reopen the museum after renovation, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs said in a statement on Monday.

A special meeting was held at the National Museum on Sunday to mark International Museum Day 2025, where Farooki addressed the gathering.

Architect Marina Tabassum, chairperson of the National Museum’s Board of Trustees, was also present. After the event, Farooki visited the Independence Museum to inspect the progress of the renovation work.

When asked about the status of the restoration and future plans, Marina told bdnews24.com: "We mainly assessed the condition of the site. It was clearly vandalised. The National Museum authorities have been asked to clean it first. Once that's done, we’ll decide how to proceed with a fresh start."

"Restoring the site is the top priority. The fountain is damaged, the lift isn’t working, and the glass railings are broken. All of that needs to be fixed," she added.

Asked when the work might begin, she replied: "The director general of the National Museum has been informed. He will instruct his team accordingly. They’ll begin when ready."

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs hopes that the restoration and reopening of the Independence Museum will help present the country’s history, cultural heritage, and the Liberation War to the next generation.

After the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government in the face of student-led mass movement on Aug 5 last year, a group of people ransacked the Independence Museum amid the celebrations.

Md Golam Kawsar, assistant keeper in the History and Classical Art Department of the National Museum and the officer in charge of the Independence Museum, said: "I informed the authorities about the incident on the 5th of August. A formal complaint has been filed, and there is an ongoing case. The museum is only being opened and closed for maintenance. Otherwise, snakes and scorpions would have taken over."

A visit inside reveals a haunting scene -- shattered glass from photo frames scattered across the floor, fire-damaged walls with fallen plaster, a strong burnt smell, and debris everywhere. The entire underground facility is cloaked in darkness.

Signs of devastation remain throughout. Remnants of burnt photographs lie on the floor, and various exhibits have been destroyed. As the museum is located underground, the full extent of the damage is not visible from outside.