Barishal Museum to Get Liberation War Gallery Before Victory Day

Barishal City Corporation Administrator Bilkis Akhtar Jahan Shirin paid an on-site visit to the Barishal Divisional Museum on Wednesday and pledged all-out support for its comprehensive development. During her visit, she assured full assistance from the city corporation to establish a ‘Liberation War Gallery’ before the upcoming Victory Day. Furthermore, she committed to taking necessary measures to open an additional entrance on Fazlul Huq Avenue at the northern side of the historic building.

Originally built a century ago as the Bakerganj District Collectorate building, the site was declared a protected monument by gazette notification on April 1, 2004. Renovation began in April 2006 with roughly BDT 1.25 crore from the Department of Archaeology’s budget; however, indifference under successive governments led to prolonged delays. Although the museum was finally inaugurated in 2014, its administrative operations continue to be run remotely from Khulna, and no regional archaeological division office has been established in Barishal to date.

Despite Barishal hosting independent Bangladesh’s first secretariat and military headquarters during the 1971 Liberation War, established even before the formation of the Mujibnagar government, no Liberation War memorabilia has been featured in the museum over 55 years of independence. Upon learning of these deficiencies through media professionals, the administrator addressed the administrative gaps directly. ‘I have spoken with the Director General of the Department of Archaeology and issued a Demi-Official (DO) letter regarding these matters,’ she announced during her visit.

Accompanied by historian Saiful Ahsan Bulbul, Barishal South District BNP Member-Secretary Advocate Abul Kalam Shahin, and local media personnel, the administrator was warmly received upon arrival by Assistant Custodian Arifur Rahman. Her visit highlights a renewed effort to address long-standing governmental procrastination, restore historical dignity to the region, and ensure that crucial heritage assets are properly managed and preserved for the public.