Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday has inaugurated the newly built State Toshakhana Museum (state depository) near Bangabandhu Military Museum at Bijoy Sarani in Dhaka city.
The five-storey modern state depository with 50,000 square feet area was constructed under the supervision of Bangladesh Army at a cost of about Tk 800 million.
All gifts received by the President, Prime Minister, ministers and officials in their official capacity should be deposited to the Toshakhana under the supervision and maintenance of the Cabinet Division.
Army Chief General Aziz Ahmed, PM’s Principal Secretary Md Nozibur Rahman, PM’s Military Secretary Major General Mia Muhammad Joynul Abedin and Engineering Chief of Bangladesh Army Major General Siddiqur Rahman Sarkar also spoke on the occasion.
Bangabandhu’s younger daughter Sheikh Rehana, cabinet members, PM’s advisors, members of diplomatic corps, chiefs of the three services and senior civil and military officials attended the function chaired by Cabinet Secretary Md Shafiul Alam.
Laying importance on proper preservation of the all gifts received by the state dignitaries at home and abroad, the prime minister said all those gifts are state property and carry dignity and honour. So those gifts should be properly preserved, she said.
Sheikh Hasina lamented that many gifts, documents inscribed with her name and ‘boat’ (election symbol of Awami League) and many rare photographs were destroyed during the BNP-Jamaat regime.
The prime minister thanked the officials of the cabinet division, defense ministry and Bangladesh Army for their sincere work to complete the construction of the museum ahead of the schedule.
After liberation, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had taken initiative to establish a Toshakhana for preservation of the gifts received at home and abroad.
Under his direction Toshakana (maintenance and administration) Rules 1974 was formulated and the Toshakhana was established at Bangabhaban, reports BSS.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina felt the necessity of a separate building for the state Toshakhana and under her direction an aesthetic building has been built beside Bangabandhu Military Museum where the state gifts shall be preserved for public display.
