European Club, tied to Pritilata’s memory, in decrepit state as museum plan stuck in limbo

The European Club, a symbol of Pritilata Waddedar's courageous sacrifice during the anti-British movement, continues to languish in disrepair, despite the government's decision to transform it into a memorial museum. 

Bureaucratic tangles have hampered progress, leaving the historic site in a decrepit state.

Located amidst the lush hills of the Pahartali area, the club once served as a centre of entertainment for European citizens during the British colonial era. A stark reminder of those times is the sign at its entrance, which read "Dog and Indian Prohibited".

The single-story red brick structure is adorned with a tin canopy. The wooden nameplate, bearing the inscription "European Club, Chittagong," has lost a few letters, but showcases ornate floral designs etched into the wood. Sadly, the south-facing doors of the club have stood broken.

The club commemorates Pritilata's heroic act on the night of 23 September 1932. Facing imminent arrest by British authorities after her attack on the club, Pritilata chose to end her own life by consuming potassium cyanide. Her dead body was discovered 100 yards from the club the following morning, leading to the observance of 24 September as Pritilata's self-sacrifice day. 

Numerous socio-political organisations continue to pay their respects by offering floral wreaths at the statue erected at the site of her ultimate sacrifice.

Amid persistent appeals from various socio-political organisations to preserve the club, there were efforts to conserve the club a few years ago, but it remains locked in a state of neglect due to bureaucratic complexities.

During a recent visit to the club, The Business Standard talked to Mominul Hoque, a former railway officer turned contractor, who revealed that the club had once served as the office of Divisional Engineer-2 of Eastern Railway. "Although the government made the decision to preserve the club as a memorial museum and it was vacated," he lamented, "there has been no progress since then." 

Shuva Devnath, a student and member of Bangladesh Chhatra Union, who came to pay his respects at Pritilata's statue, emphasised the club's significance to British colonial history. He recounted Pritilata and her comrades' heroic attack on the club using homemade bombs and firearms as a pivotal moment in the anti-British movement. He voiced the collective demand for its conversion into a memorial museum, underscoring its importance in educating future generations about the nation's rich history.

However, Syed Taufiq Mahmood, chief assistant officer of the Office of Divisional Engineer-2, Bangladesh Railway Eastern Zone, offered a glimmer of hope. He indicated that the process of converting the club into a museum was underway. 

According to a decision at an inter-ministry meeting, the office of Divisional Engineer-1 had been relocated, but the keys had not yet been transferred to Divisional Engineer-2. 

He asserted, "The transformation into a museum is inevitable, albeit it may take some time."

Master Da Surya Sen initiated plans to strike at the British pride represented by the club. Pritilata bravely led the attack on the night of 23 September, orchestrating a simultaneous assault from all sides. The club bore the brunt of bullets and bombs, resulting in the unfortunate death of a woman and injuries to several European citizens. British officials retaliated with gunfire. Although all the rebels managed to escape, Pritilata suffered a bullet wound and ultimately sacrificed her life to evade capture by the British police.