NN Online:
The government has approved the transformation of Ganabhaban—the official residence of the Prime Minister—into the July Uprising Memorial Museum, commemorating the historic student and mass uprising of July–August 2024.
The museum aims to preserve the memories of the movement, honor its martyrs, and document incidents of repression spanning the previous 16 years.
At a meeting held on Tuesday (July 15) at the Secretariat, the Finance Affairs Committee of the Advisory Council granted approval for the construction and renovation of both civil and electro-mechanical (E/M) components of the project under the Direct Procurement Method (DPM). Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed presided over the session.
The total cost of the project is estimated at Tk 111.19 crore, with completion targeted by August 5.
According to meeting sources, the initial decision to convert Ganabhaban into a memorial museum was taken during an Advisory Council meeting on December 24 last year.
Due to time constraints that make standard tendering procedures unfeasible, the Public Works Department (PWD) under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works proposed using DPM for rapid execution. The proposal was reviewed and subsequently approved by the committee.
Under this arrangement, Messrs Shubhra Traders has been awarded the E/M works contract—covering electrical wiring, fittings, switches, and mechanical installations—at a cost of Tk 40.82 crore. Meanwhile, civil works, including structural renovations and construction, will be carried out by The Civil Engineers Ltd. at an estimated cost of Tk 70.36 crore.
The government hopes the museum will serve as a lasting tribute to the spirit of the 2024 uprising and become a center for historical reflection and learning.
