The DUCSU museum has been officially reopened after renovation work aimed at preserving the country’s history, heritage and glorious achievements — particularly the historical legacy of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU). Through this renovation, the museum has been made more modern, aesthetically presented and enriched.
DUCSU VP Sadik Kayem formally inaugurated the renovated museum by cutting a ribbon at 12pm on Sunday (September 13). Overall supervision of the museum was handled by Fatima Tasnim Juma, DUCSU’s secretary for liberation war and democratic movement affairs.
Among others attending the inauguration were DUCSU treasurer Professor Dr H M Mosharraf Hossain, general secretary (GS) S M Forhad, political science professor Dr Shariful Islam, DUCSU student transport secretary Asif Abdullah, career development secretary Mazharul Islam, social service secretary A B Zubair, Farzana Alam, daughter of the late former DUCSU VP Badrul Alam, along with her family members, leaders of various hall unions, and general students from different university departments.
In her inaugural remarks, liberation war and democratic movement affairs secretary Fatima Tasnim Juma said: “DUCSU’s history is deeply intertwined with the thousands of struggles in the history of Dhaka University’s student community. Since its founding, DUCSU has played a pioneering role at various times in securing students’ rights, democratic movements, and social and cultural activities. Though many memories and artefacts of this glorious legacy were scattered about, the museum meant to properly preserve them had remained in a dilapidated state for a long time. After taking charge, we planned to modernise it, and that plan’s successful implementation is complete today.”
She further said that over the coming week, historical documents and information would be added to further enrich the museum. It features not just Dhaka University’s history, but the history and heritage of the entire country. Old photographs, documents, publications, posters and memorabilia held by former leaders, teachers, students and researchers would be gradually collected and used to transform it into a complete historical archive, she said.
Farzana Alam, daughter of former DUCSU VP Badrul Alam (1957-58 session), said: “History has been presented here with complete neutrality, from 1957 to August 2024, without the influence or bias of any political ideology. Through this, current and future generations will be able to learn about our predecessors’ involvement, work and achievements with DUCSU. I extend my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to DUCSU for this wonderful initiative to present true history.”
DUCSU GS S M Forhad said: “We have given a new shape to the DUCSU museum, which had turned into something of a heap of neglect since 1990. It presents ancient history, the 1971 Liberation War, the mass uprising of 1990, the July 2024 revolution, and various political transitions between 2009 and 2024 in chronological order. Some gaps remain, including photographs of certain VPs, so the coming week has been set aside for corrections. We invite anyone with relevant information or suggestions to share them with us.”
DUCSU VP Sadik Kayem said: “We have renovated the DUCSU museum, which had long been neglected and rendered ineffective under fascist control, to present the true history of Bangladesh from 1905 through the July 2024 revolution. It preserves the language movement, the great Liberation War, the 1990 anti-autocracy movement, various massacres of the fascist era, and rare documents, images and memories of martyrs from the July revolution. Alongside this, the history of all 39 DUCSU sessions since 1921 and an honour board bearing the names of former VPs and GSs have been added here.” He appealed to the public and researchers to contribute historical documents and rare images from the July revolution to further enrich the museum.