The Shaheed Janani Jahanara Imam Memorial Museum has become part of the Bangladesh National Museum as its ninth branch.
Jahanara Imam鈥檚 son Saif Imam Jami formally handed over the key to the Shaheed Janani Jahanara Imam Memorial Museum to the Bangladesh National Museum director general Md Kamruzzaman at a programme organised at Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Auditorium of the national museum on Saturday.
The Shaheed Janani Jahanara Imam Memorial Museum features around 5,000 personal memorabilia, photographs, documents and others associated with Jahanara Imam. Saif Imam Jami founded the museum at the family's residence, Kanika, on Elephant Road, Dhaka in 2007.
The programme, organised by the national museum also marked the 95th anniversary of the birth of Jahanara Imam, a litterateur and a celebrated campaigner against sectarianism and war crimes committed during the War of Independence in 1971.
Liberation War Affairs minister AKM Mozammel Haque was present as chief guest and Saif Imam Jami and freedom fighter Nasir Uddin Yousuff were present as guests at the programme.
Md Kamruzzaman delivered welcome speech at the programme, which was presided over by state minister for cultural affairs Nahid Izhar Khan.
Saif Imam Jami said, 鈥業t is a memorable day for me. I thank all, who have supported us.鈥�
鈥楾housands of people came to pay their last tributes to my mother after she passed away. It was then that I realised how much she was loved and respected by the people of the country,鈥� mentioned Saif Imam Jami, thanking all who worked for the Jahanara Imam museum in the past 17 years.
Md Kamruzzaman said that Jahanara Imam dedicated her life to the country.
鈥楽he provided shelter for freedom fighters in her house. We are happy and proud because Shaheed Janani Jahanara Imam Memorial Museum has become part of the national museum,鈥� said Md Kamruzzaman.
Nahid Izhar Khan said that the younger generation would be able to learn about Jahanara Imam by visiting the museum, which is scheduled to remain open for visitors from 10:00am to 5:00pm every Saturday.
Md Kamruzzaman said that adequate manpower was necessary to keep the museum open six days a week and the museum authority sent a letter to the cultural affairs ministry in this regard.
The programme also featured an orchestra show, a reading from Ekatturer Dinguli and songs.
Thespians Ramendu Majumdar, Ferdousi Majumdar, actress Tropa Majumdar and recitation artiste Apan Ahsan read selected parts from Ekatturer Dinguli, written by Jahanara Imam, at the programme.
Besides, Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra artistes, including Shaheen Samad, Timir Nandi, Dalia Nausheen, Rafiqul Alam and others sang patriotic songs at the programme.
