The country’s only genocide museum—1971: Genocide-Torture Archive and Museum in Khulna—has remained closed for the past 17 months, with no visible initiative to reopen it, amid financial constraints, security concerns and the lack of renovation work.
Established to bring the history of genocide during the Liberation War out of academic discourse and into the public sphere, the museum began its journey in Khulna in 2014 with the encouragement of noted historian and Dhaka University professor Muntasir Mamun. The location was chosen largely because of Chuknagar, site of one of the largest and most brutal massacres of 1971.
The museum was briefly opened to visitors in May 2024 following the construction of a six-storey building under the supervision of the Bangladesh National Museum, at a cost of around Tk322 crore, funded by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and implemented by the Public Works Department. However, it remained open for only about a month.
On July 20, 2024, the museum was shut citing renovation work and curfew-related issues. On August 4, protesters vandalised a hospital opposite the museum over the alleged non-treatment of injured students, during which the museum’s main gate was also damaged. Since then, the gate has been sealed with tin and bamboo, and the museum has remained locked.
Officials said the museum cannot be reopened without repairs and renovation, but no work has yet begun.
The museum houses 192 categories of artefacts related to the genocide and the Liberation War, including personal belongings of martyred intellectuals and journalists such as Munier Chowdhury, Shahidullah Kaiser, Nizamuddin Ahmed, Selina Parveen and Sirajuddin Hossain. It also preserves more than 350 Liberation War photographs, alongside an archive of over 10,000 photos, about 2,000 videos and numerous rare documents.
Museum officials warned that many artefacts are at risk of deterioration as the facility remains shut. Despite contacting the Public Works Department to repair the damaged gate, they said no response has been received. Government grants allocated through the Ministry of Cultural Affairs have also not been released.
Due to the financial crisis, eight officials and staff members were laid off in the first phase, they said, adding that the museum’s future remains uncertain.
Professor Muntasir Mamun has served as president of the museum trust since its inception. The museum is overseen by an 11-member board of trustees.
An official associated with the museum said private organisations had recently visited to assess the damage and estimate renovation costs. “Once we have a clear budget, steps will be taken to repair and reopen the museum,” the official said.
Trustee secretary Baharul Alam said: “For the past 17 months, both funding and reopening initiatives have remained stalled due to political reasons. I have approached many people personally. Annual expenses including electricity bills and staff salaries amount to Tk60–65 lakh. Without government grants, it is impossible to run the museum.”
Khulna Metropolitan Muktijoddha Sangsad Commander Moniruzzaman Moni said the museum should be run officially under the supervision of the National Museum. “Despite controversies and reduced acceptance due to political issues, the genocide museum must be reopened quickly to preserve and present the history of the Liberation War,” he said.
Khulna Deputy Commissioner ASM Jamshed Khandkar said he would look into the matter. “I have recently joined. I will make inquiries and take necessary steps to reopen the genocide museum,” he added.
