Dhaka, August 1 — Once a heavily guarded seat of power, the former residence of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is being transformed into a museum — a stark monument to her autocratic rule and the student-led revolution that ended her 15-year reign on August 5, 2024.
Photographs of jubilant protestors waving flags atop the Dhaka palace as Hasina fled by helicopter to India captured the dramatic climax of a nationwide uprising. Now, one year later, with Bangladesh still navigating political uncertainty, authorities hope the new museum at Ganabhaban Palace will serve as a powerful reminder of the dangers of authoritarianism.
Graffiti left by protesters—slogans like “Freedom,” “We want justice,” and “Killer Hasina”—remain untouched on the walls, now preserved as historical artifacts.
Hasina’s time in power was marred by severe human rights violations, including mass detentions, extrajudicial killings, and repression of political dissent. The UN estimates up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024 as she tried to hold onto power. She currently faces charges of crimes against humanity in Dhaka but has refused court appearances.
Interim leader Muhammad Yunus, 85, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and head of the caretaker government, said the museum will “preserve memories of her misrule and the people’s anger.”
Curator Tanzim Wahab said the museum will include films, interactive installations, protest artifacts, and plaques honoring those killed during her rule. Even the tiny detention cells where political opponents were held in suffocating conditions will be part of the exhibit.
Rights activist Mosfiqur Rahman Johan, who stormed the palace last year, called it “a symbol of fascism, of suffering—and of resistance.”
Meanwhile, protesters have dismantled statues and memorials built during Hasina’s era, vowing never to forget, but to move forward. As student leader Muhibullah Al Mashnun declared, “To build a better Bangladesh, we must tear down the symbols of dictatorship.”
