Bangabandhu Memorial Trust Explained

Bangabandhu Memorial Trust is a trust in Bangladesh that was created to remember Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh. His daughter and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the chair of the trust.[1] [2]

History

On 11 April 1994, Sheikh Hasina established the Bangabandhu Memorial Trust. On 6 September 1994, Hasina handed over the deed of Bangabandhu Bhaban, the personal residence to Bangabandhu Memorial Trust. The trust turned Bangabandhu Bhaban in to a museum, Bangabandhu Memorial Museum. The first head of the museum was A. F. Salahuddin Ahmed. After Ahmed died, Hashem Khan took over as the head of the museum. The trust established the Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Mujib Memorial KPJ Specialized Hospital, named after Mujibur Rahman's wife Fazilatunnesa.[3]

On 17 May 2017, a consortium of banks donated 1360 million Bangladeshi taka ($16.7M as of 2017) to the trust along with Prime Minister’s Education Assistance Trust and Shuchona Foundation.[4] On 6 January 2020, Standard Bank donated 100 million taka to the trust on the occasion of Mujib Year.[5] Five other banks also donated large amounts to the trust on occasion of Mujib Year.[6] The Ministry of Education ordered the nationalization of 15 colleges named after Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members after the trust and trust chairperson Hasina approved the nationalization as Prime Minister .[7]

Notes and References

  1. News: Bangabandhu Memorial Trust meets . 1 April 2020 . Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . 30 November 2018.
  2. News: PM chairs Bangabandhu Memorial Trust meeting . 1 April 2020 . Dhaka Tribune . 6 December 2019.
  3. News: Tracing the beginnings of the Bangabandhu Memorial Trust . 1 April 2020 . Dhaka Tribune . 25 August 2016.
  4. News: Banks donate Tk 136cr to prime minister . 1 April 2020 . The Daily Star . 17 May 2017 . en.
  5. News: Standard Bank donates Tk10 crore to Bangabandhu Memorial Trust . 1 April 2020 . The Business Standard . 9 January 2020 . en.
  6. News: Banks' donations to Bangabandhu Memorial Trust . 1 April 2020 . Daily Sun . 8 January 2020 . en.
  7. News: Bangladesh nationalises 28 colleges; 15 named after Bangabandhu and family . 1 April 2020 . bdnews24.com . 4 February 2020.