Bangladesh’s former autocratic leader Sheikh Hasina’s lavish palace will be transformed into a museum to commemorate the revolution that deposed her, announced the caretaker government leader on Monday. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus emphasized the importance of preserving the memories of her oppressive regime and the public outrage that led to her ousting as he visited the dilapidated Ganabhaban palace, which was once the prime minister’s official residence.
After a student-led uprising forced Hasina to flee to India by helicopter on August 5, Yunus became the country’s “chief advisor.” Hasina’s 15-year rule was marked by widespread human rights violations, including mass detentions and extrajudicial killings of political opponents. Recently, a Bangladeshi court issued an arrest warrant for her.
Following her departure, over 700 people were killed in violent police crackdowns. Thousands stormed her residence, which was labeled a “symbol of repression” by the government. The palace walls, now defaced with graffiti condemning her regime, were looted and damaged during the chaos.
The museum will feature a replica of the infamous “House of Mirrors,” or Aynaghar detention center, notorious for isolating prisoners. Yunus stated that the Aynaghar should serve as a reminder of the torture suffered by secret detainees.
The chaotic aftermath of Hasina’s overthrow also led to the looting of a museum dedicated to her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s first president. Apurba Jahangir, a press official for Yunus, confirmed that construction for the museum will begin in December. Although the project has not yet started, plans are underway. Hasina has not been seen publicly since her escape, with her last known location being a military airbase near New Delhi, India.
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