Ex-Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina’s official residence converted to museum

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s official residence, Gun Bhawan, is now being converted into a museum as a reminder of her dictatorship.

On August 5, 2024, student-led protests led to the end of Sheikh Hasina’s government. She fled to India by helicopter, and images of protesters waving flags and celebrating on the roof of her palace have become a symbol of the movement.

A year later, the country is still in political turmoil, but officials hope the museum will serve as a lesson for future generations.

Slogans and graffiti on the palace walls have been left intact, with phrases like “We want freedom,” “We want justice,” and “Dictator.”

Sheikh Hasina’s rule has been marked by serious human rights abuses, including the arrest and extrajudicial killing of political opponents.

According to the United Nations, around 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024 in her attempt to hold on to power.

Sheikh Hasina, 77, has not appeared in court despite being summoned in criminal cases against her and denies the charges.

Elections are expected in early 2026 under the leadership of a caretaker government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.