RU Martyred Memorial Museum memories Liberation War history

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RAJSHAHI, March 12, 2019 (BSS)-The nine-month War of Liberation waged by
the people of Bangladesh in 1971 will forever remain as one of the most
glorious chapters in human history.

The sovereign and independent People’s Republic of Bangladesh, as it stands
today, is the outcome of an arduous struggle of the people under the
leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

People of this country, inspired by the great leader, rose in arms against
the military junta of Pakistan when years of political persuasion failed to
secure a place of honor and justice for the Bangalees in that country.

The Rajshahi University (RU) had a vital and glorious role in the
liberation war.

A good number of the university teachers, students and officials made
supreme sacrifice in the war. The RU authorities have set up several
monuments and a museum in memory of the martyrs.

In 1972, the authorities established Martyred Memorial Museum (Shaheed
Smriti Sangrashala) which is the first museum of the country on the
liberation war, said Prof Ananda Kumar Saha, Pro-VC of RU.

There are three galleries in this museum. The galleries begin with covering
the early history of Bangladesh.

A major section records the events of the Language Movement for the
recognition of the Bangla Language in Pakistan, which is regarded as the
beginning of the movement for Bangladesh’s independence.

The coverage of the liberation war includes the training and operations of
the Mukti Bahini, the guerrilla army built by the Awami League to resist
Pakistani forces.

Several galleries focus on the genocide carried out by the Pakistani army
against the Bengali population, with Operation Search light targeting Bengali
intellectuals, students, Hindus and Awami League leaders, and the
humanitarian crisis created with the pouring of an estimated 10 million
refugees into neighboring India.

The museum also preserves the memories of Professor Dr Samsuzzohha along
with the other teachers of Rajshahi University who sacrificed their lives for
the country.

The galleries display the weapons used by the Mukti Bahini, personal
effects of many Mukti Bahini fighters and civilian victims of the atrocities
committed by Pakistani forces, many donated by their families after the war.

Also displayed are remains of human skulls and bones retrieved from mass
grave of civilians killed by Pakistani forces.