Bangladesh opens July Uprising museum at Hasina's former residence

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman opened a memorial museum at Ganabhaban, Sheikh Hasina's former official residence. The move formally records the July 2024 uprising and honours those killed in the crackdown.

In Short

• The museum preserves artefacts, documents, videos and memorabilia from the protests
• A UN report said up to 1,400 people died last year
• The unrest erupted over a controversial government jobs quota system

Bangladesh on Wednesday inaugurated a memorial museum at the former official residence of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina to commemorate those killed during the violent student-led protests of July-August 2024. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman opened the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum at Ganabhaban on the day that marked Hasina's flight to India on August 5, 2024.

The museum has been set up to preserve the history of the 2024 mass protests and honour the sacrifices of those who died in the violence. According to a February 2025 report by the UN rights office, up to 1,400 people were killed between July 15 and August 15 last year, during what has been dubbed the July Uprising, after Hasina's government ordered a security crackdown on protesters.

Hasina had fled to India amid widespread protests against her government over a controversial quota system in jobs. Three days later, Muhammad Yunus took over as chief adviser of the interim government. State-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha said Rahman inaugurated the museum by unveiling a plaque at Ganabhaban in the capital's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

Rahman also toured the museum's galleries and exhibitions, which feature preserved artefacts, photographs, official documents, video footage and memorabilia linked to the July Mass Uprising. A documentary tracing the chronology of the protests, the participation and sacrifices of people from all walks of life, and the events that led to the movement's success was screened at the inaugural ceremony, the report said.

The process of preserving the site and establishing the museum had been initiated by the Yunus government. The inauguration marks Bangladesh's formal effort to record the events of the 2024 uprising at the residence that once served as Hasina's official home.

With PTI Inputs

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