Bangladesh to replace planned sculptures at historic sites

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Tarique Rahman

DHAKA: The Tarique Rahman government has proposed replacing planned sculptures commemorating Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's March 7, 1971 speech and the surrender of Pak forces the same year with water fountains at Suhrawardy Udyan.The proposal is part of a plan to "rescope and repurpose" the Independence Monument project, according to sources at ministry of liberation war affairs.Originally known as Ramna Race Course, Suhrawardy Udyan is a national memorial and public space located in Dhaka. The site, covering an area of 95 acres, is notably associated with two pivotal moments in Bangladeshi history: the historic speech by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 7 March, 1971, calling for struggle against the Pakistani establishment and the surrender of Pakistani forces on 16 Dec, 1971, which marked the end of the Bangladesh War of Independence.The project, titled "Construction of the Independence Monument at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka", began in 2018 and is scheduled for completion in June 2027. Its original design included sculptures at the two historic sites. Work had stalled since the change of govt in 2024.