Historic Zia Memorial Museum crumbles amid years of neglect

Just beyond the congestion of Chattogram's Kazir Dewri stands the Zia Memorial Museum – silent, dimly lit and visibly worn by time.

The century-old building bears cracked walls, peeling paint and fallen plaster, with a damp smell in the corridors, poor ventilation, and limited lighting that offers little protection to its historic artefacts.

Located in the city's commercial heart, the museum is one of Bangladesh's most politically significant landmarks. Yet prolonged neglect and delayed renovation have left both the structure and its collections increasingly at risk.

Inside, faded gallery panels, fragile showcases and dust-covered dioramas reflect the deterioration, while moisture threatens rare photographs, Liberation War memorabilia and archival publications in the absence of modern preservation systems.

Constructed in 1913 during British rule as the "Lat Saheb's Kuthi," the building later served as Chattogram Circuit House. On 30 May 1981, then president Ziaur Rahman was assassinated here during a military coup.

Following a cabinet decision, it was converted into a museum and inaugurated on 6 September 1993 by then prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia. It now operates under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs as a branch of the Bangladesh National Museum.

The museum houses 422 artefacts – including Ziaur Rahman's personal belongings, Liberation War weapons, publications and gifts – across 17 galleries documenting his life from pre-1971 activism to independence, military leadership, presidency, assassination and final journey.

Structural instability has made several galleries unsafe. After the 2 December earthquake, new cracks appeared in walls and staircases, and plaster collapsed while visitors were inside, prompting an indefinite closure.

Caretaker Arpita Dash Gupta said the 113-year-old building urgently requires renovation, noting that up to 1,000 visitors gather during peak hours – far exceeding safe capacity – yet repeated warnings over the past five years have drawn no response.

The main auditorium remains closed, while the seminar hall's air-conditioning, generator and sound system are non-functional, forcing activities to run with only two microphones. Manpower shortages persist, with just 32 staff against 45 approved posts; key positions such as curator, accountant and librarian have remained vacant for years, leaving employees to shoulder multiple responsibilities.

In May last year, Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki announced plans to revitalise the museum, stressing that it must present Ziaur Rahman's full historical role – from announcing the 1971 declaration of independence at Kalurghat to his political leadership – through professional curation. While the ministry has decided to double its allocation, he emphasised that funding alone would not suffice without skilled curators and modern exhibition planning.

Aliur Rahman, chairman of the Chattogram History and Culture Research Centre, called for the site's immediate acquisition under the Antiquities Act, noting that nearly 18 years without major renovation had severely damaged the structure, though it remains suitable for conservation.

"We have formally notified the Department of Archaeology about the need to preserve the site. They are expected to visit within a month and issue conservation guidelines. We demand immediate renovation and the prompt reopening of the museum, as it has long been a public place and is closely linked to one of Bangladesh's most popular leaders."