In awe of uniforms of valour

To pay a tribute to the men and women who serve our country and make countless sacrifices – sometimes even putting their own lives at risk – visit Bangladesh Military Museum, Bangladesh Air Force Museum, and Liberation War Museum of Bangladesh Police.

The three institutions provide sneak peeks to the laymen about the valour and glory of these services, and the extraordinary and adventurous experiences the men and women who are employed in such services face.

Bangladesh Air Force Museum is home to a collection of aircrafts, which includes aeroplanes that were used for training purposes, and a couple of historic planes as well. The Dakota aircraft, for example, was used as a war plane in 1971.   

The museum allows you to get on board of a number of these vehicles, hence giving you the opportunity to explore more – although you will need to buy extra tickets for that.

The open-air museum is spacious, with a park and a gaming arcade inside the overall complex.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Military Museum in Bijoy Sarani celebrates the glories and heritages of our army. From kiosks containing rare footages and valuable information about the War, to a selection of weaponry and various other objects, the museum is surely an interesting one.

The notion of valour and pride – a sense of something larger than life – that is often associated with the armed forces is very much evident in the exhibits.

"I love seeing the monstrous vehicles kept at the museum," said Hasib Ahmed, a college student and a car enthusiast. "One of my favourites is a Jeep with a mounted recoilless rifle – looks strong and cold-blooded!" 

He also admires a blue Jeep Wagoner, which was used by none other than General M.A.G. Osmani, Commander-in-Chief of Bangladesh Armed Forces during the Liberation War.     

On the other hand, Liberation War Museum of Bangladesh Police (located in Rajarbagh Police Lines) features the actions of the police throughout the ages, and speaks of its contributions during the War.

A visit will be quite a unique experience as the museum offers you a look at different historic events through the eyes of the police. To illustrate, one of the display boards highlights its role in the general elections of 1970. "A platoon of security force deployed in each polling station consisted of six members of Ansar headed by a Police constable," it says.  

Be it a selection of arms used by the police in the British era or the horse cart which was gifted to the police chief by the king of Bhawal and kept by the stable in Rajarbagh Police Lines, the museum has a wide array of relics.

An example would be the warning bell which was rung at the attack on the area by the Pakistani army on the night of 25 March, 1971. Also showcased is the historic transceiver that was used on that night to transmit the news of that attack. 

The museum also pays tribute to several members of the police force who had lost their lives in the War – through a mix of words, photographs, and everyday objects owned by the martyrs.

Pay your tribute too, to the uniforms of valour, by visiting these museums – to understand and appreciate the lives of those who wear them.

Weekly closure

Bangladesh Military Museum and Liberation War Museum of Bangladesh Police: Wednesday. Bangladesh Air Force Museum is open every day.

Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed/LS Archive