Nahid Islam, Convenor of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and Opposition Chief Whip, has called for avoiding party-centric depictions of the history of the July Mass Uprising. He also demanded the enactment of a law to recognize the July Museum as an autonomous institution.
He made these remarks on Saturday (August 8) morning while visiting the July Museum alongside NCP representatives.
Nahid Islam said, "The July Memory Museum needs an autonomous structure. It requires at least 200 staff members, but it is currently operating with only 12 to 15 volunteers. As a result, the museum is at risk. For 16 years, this Gono Bhaban was the epicenter of fascism and brutal oppression. Beyond domestic fascism, the museum should also reflect how foreign powers influenced the growth of fascism during Hasina's regime."
He added, "This museum was ready to open during the tenure of the previous interim government. Even then, the BNP government took five months to open it. We are observing certain changes here. Some items related to border killings and Felani's memory have been removed, while displays highlighting BNP's 16 years of oppression have been expanded, introducing a partisan narrative."
He further stated that care must be taken so that no single party's narrative is highlighted, and national themes remain the focus. He pointed out that no artifacts from schools and colleges outside Dhaka that played a role in the July movement were included. He urged the government to ensure the museum is presented in a more artistic and comprehensive manner.
