REPORT OF A VISIT TO THE Bangladesh National Museum

                                                             Name of Museum Visited: Bangladesh National Museum

                                                              Date of Visit: 29/7/17    Time In: 10:30      Time Out: 12:45

The Bangladesh National Museum is extraordinary place to explore and learn. We had visited the 104 years old museum on the 29th July this year. We looked over the museum with the guidance of our honorable treasurer, Ishfaq Ilahi Choudhury. The size of the Bangladesh National Museum from the highway is much larger than it feels on the inside. It is the largest and well known museums in the country as well as in the south Asia. It was founded in 1913 by the British Governor of Bengal. Now, it is a four storied building with 46 galleries. Actually the building was built at 1983. I perceive that  the museum is well organized and displays have been housed chronologically in several departments like department of ethnography and decorative art, department of history and classical art, department of natural history, and department of contemporary and world civilization. It have an extensive collection of artifacts. Bangladesh National Museum has a vast collection of pieces. One of the museum staff told me that the number of exhibits, from different disciplines collected up to 2009, was about 86,000 but only 10% of the collection are shown for the visitor. I found there a great number of wonderful artifacts. The museum’s ground floor consists of some old guns at the entrance and the hall where the people book their tickets or assemble to hear the history of the museum. The hall leads to a grand staircase. Beside the hall, there is a smaller room which also acts like the hall and a simple staircase.At first we entered into the 1st floor which is divided into 22 rooms. The first room displays a large map showing the map of Bangladesh and its 64 districts. I tried to found out my district with the help of my friend. The 2nd room consists of a large statue of a royal Bengal tiger. 3rd-10th room, these rooms consist of natural beauties found in Bangladesh. In one of the room there is showcase of a tongue of a whale. I came to know that whales are not fish, they are animal like human being. 10th-22nd room, the other rooms contain some historic relics of Bengal up to 1900. There is a room which shows the different boats used by the rural people. The 2nd floor consists of photos of famous people and showcases the Bangladesh Liberation War and the Language Movement of 1952. There are posters used in the war, a torture machine and much more. There are also two libraries. The 3rd floor consists of pictures of international politicians, artists, scientists, famous pictures and four international galleries - Chinese, Korean, Iranian and Swiss.

I came to know with the help of a officials of the museum that the museum shows all its collection in several departments like department of ethnography and decorative art, department of history and classical art, department of natural history, and department of contemporary and world civilization. Here is a short description about this four departments which I observed then.

•  The Department of History and Classical Art: I found the most notable objects conserved at the Department of History and Classical Art.I loved being able to see the table on which the instrument of surrender was signed by the Pak army on 16 December 1971. The other significant objects I saw there are: the first flag of independence raised on foreign missions, documents of Liberation war of Bangladesh, Pakistani brutal killer’s torture machines, the significant declaration of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman conveyed on 7th march 1971 in Dhaka, the wounded blood mark in the shirt of shaheed Shafiur Rahman who was cruelly killed by the police under Pakistani government on the Language movement of 1952, Private souvenirs of martyr Asad , historic mementos of Kazi Nazrul Islam, Michael Madhushudhan Dutt, Rabindranath Tagor, various kinds of coins, sandstones, very old caption and manuscripts; terracotta plates; wooden carving; medals, royal decrees and historic artworks; iron axes; archaeological artifacts and objects about religion.
•     Department of Ethnography and Decorative Art: I enjoyed this department so much this department is in charge of objects include Muslin Sari, various kind of decorative umbrella; dress that be dressed in by the former king-queen and citizen; Choga(it is a short of loose fitting dress) Achkan-party dress, textiles; boats of Bangladesh; arms made by iron; cannons; war drum; swords; ivory dolls; wood carvings; musical instruments; tribal ornaments; tribal dress; fishing tools; items of household decoration; sample of decorative cakes; and musical instruments.
•  Department of Contemporary Art and World Civilization: In the Department of Contemporary Art and World Civilization, I observed many things including paintings and carvings of Great Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin, Kamrul Hasan and artist S. M. Sultan. I saw the artworks and skills of some famous artists from home and abroad. Easily I got in touch with the experience of 2nd world war to see the potteries burnt during the war in Hiroshima and Nagasaki of Japan and a lot of local and foreign objects collected from Bangabhaban.
•   Department of Natural History:  I found there two other departments. They are Department of Conservation Laboratory and Department of Public Education. The Conservation Laboratory tries to restore the objects which are worn out and lose its appearance using scientific methods. The Department of Public Education performs museum related education programs for public and students. This department has seven sections: education, display, library, publications, audio-visual, auditorium and photography. The Department of Public Education organizes seminars, symposia, exhibitions, competitions and educational and cultural functions.

In the museum we watched a short film on the second floor. The film was on our liberation war .We all watched the movie sincerely and enjoyed the movie immensely. I really enjoyed the Department of Natural History. I was much amused with the view of butterflies & birds.

  To me, this was the most interesting and most enjoyable museum that I ever visited. I would suggest this museum to everyone.  It holds valuable information on the tradition, customs and heritage of our country.  I think that everyone could learn important concepts that are derived from history, tradition, customs, persons, art, cultures and many other things from this museum and the exhibits that are housed within in it.