The former official residence of Bangladesh’s ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is being converted into a museum, serving as a permanent reminder of her autocratic rule. The sprawling Ganabhaban palace, once a heavily fortified symbol of power, became the site of jubilant celebrations when protesters stormed it on August 5, 2024, forcing Hasina to flee the country. A year later, with Bangladesh still navigating political instability, authorities aim to preserve the palace as a testament to the people’s uprising against dictatorship. Graffiti on its walls—messages like “Freedom” and “We want justice”—remain untouched, capturing the anger that fueled the revolution.
Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule was marked by widespread human rights abuses, including the imprisonment and extrajudicial killings of political opponents. The UN estimates that up to 1,400 people were killed in the final weeks of her regime as she desperately clung to power. Now facing trial for crimes against humanity, Hasina has refused to appear in court, denying all allegations. Meanwhile, the museum will house artifacts from the protest movement, including photographs and personal stories of those killed by security forces.
Curator Tanzim Wahab explained that the museum will use films, interactive displays, and preserved detention cells to expose the brutality of Hasina’s regime. “The deeper purpose is retrospective—to reflect on years of oppression,” he said. Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, leading the interim government, endorsed the project, stating it would ensure future generations remember both the dictatorship and the people’s resistance.
For activists like Mosfiqur Rahman Johan, who witnessed the palace’s fall, the museum represents redemption. “Ganabhaban was a symbol of fascism,” he said. “Now, it will symbolize our struggle for freedom.” The museum is expected to open in 2026, coinciding with Bangladesh’s next elections, serving as both a warning against authoritarianism and a platform for democratic discourse.
