Museum in honour of Shaheed Rafiq has no memorabilia

L-R: A mural of Shaheed Rafiq at the establishment and the library and museum. Photo: Star

The home village of Language Movement martyr Rafiquddin Ahmed has been renamed Rafiqnagar [from Paril] and his home has been named Rafiq Angan. The government has also constructed a library and museum here in his honour.
In 2008, Manikganj Zilla Parisad built the 'Bhasha Shaheed Rafiq Uddin Ahmad Library and Memorial Museum' at a cost of Tk 90 lakh. The library has around 4,500 books on the Language Movement and the Liberation War.
The museum and library were formally inaugurated on May 15, 2008. Dr Anisuzzaman, Professor Halima Khatun and Begum Rawshan Ara Bachchu were present at the inaugural function.
Though it is a commendable endeavour, locals complain that the museum has no memorabilia related to Shaheed Rafiq. There is only a portrait of him. Visitors, from various parts of the country, often come to the museum and return disappointed.
Manik Khan, a local, said that the establishment only has books but nothing belonging to the Language Movement martyr.
Caretaker of the institution, Shahjalal Mia Babu said, "There are 4,500 books and two national dailies (Ittefaq and Inqilab) for readers." "The authority bought books worth Tk 5 lakh more this year," he said.
Various programmes are held here every year to honour the Language Movement martyrs, in particular, Shaheed Rafiq.
The villagers demanded a sculpture of Shaheed Rafiq at the museum and library premises.
Librarian Farhad Hossain Khan urged family members of the Language Movement martyr to donate Rafiq's clothes, or other belongings to the museum.