Bangabandhu Military Museum: When architecture brings bravery and history to life
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Bangabandhu Military Museum: When architecture brings bravery and history to life

The museum’s primary purpose is to collect, conserve and exhibit the history, heritage, successes and progress of the Bangladesh military throughout the decades and to motivate people to join the force
Bangabandhu Military Museum: When architecture brings bravery and history to life

Habitat

Kaniz Supriya
22 March, 2022, 03:10 pm
Last modified: 22 March, 2022, 08:14 pm

Related News

  • RMG factories running below capacity due to less work orders: BGMEA chief
  • Bangladesh's FY22 GDP insight
  • Decoding Monetary Policy Statement 2023: Was there any better alternative?
  • Manpower export to Malaysia to be made easier, faster: Minister
  • Preparing for the future of AI in the job market: How Bangladesh can thrive in a tech-driven world

Bangabandhu Military Museum: When architecture brings bravery and history to life

The museum’s primary purpose is to collect, conserve and exhibit the history, heritage, successes and progress of the Bangladesh military throughout the decades and to motivate people to join the force

Kaniz Supriya
22 March, 2022, 03:10 pm
Last modified: 22 March, 2022, 08:14 pm

Located right beside the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theatre at Bijoy Sarani in Dhaka, the Bangabandhu Military Museum is a contemporary establishment that endeavours to uphold Bangladeshi military forces' bravery and glorious history.

Upon entering the premises, the central plaza with moving escalators will draw your attention and make you wonder whether you've entered a shopping mall. But, as you wander around the halls, you develop a sense of the magnificent architecture of the building.

The wide frontal court, waterbody adorned with greenery, fuzzy height variations of each floor, and the picturesque view from every direction make the museum one of a kind and possibly one of the best in Bangladesh.

Upon entering the premises, the central plaza with moving escalators will draw your attention. Photo: City Syntax
Upon entering the premises, the central plaza with moving escalators will draw your attention. Photo: City Syntax

The museum is a joint venture project of Architect Ali Imam and an architectural consultancy firm, Nakshabid Architects. Design Works Group (DWG), Mukta Dinwiddie MacLaren Architects (MDM) and Journeyman combinedly worked on the museum's interior.

This museum was founded in 1987 at Mirpur Cantonment and the idea was to educate people about Bangladesh military's glorious history. The museum was permanently relocated to its current location in 1992. 

The museum's primary purpose is to collect, conserve, and exhibit the history, heritage, successes, and progress of the Bangladesh military throughout the decades and to motivate people to join the force. 

The museum has six separate sections, including galleries for the Bangladesh Army, Navy, and Air Force. The maintenance accessories are kept in three separate workshops and stores in the basement. Other than the UN peacekeeping gallery on the top floor, the entire museum is organised from a national point of view.

Owned by the Ministry of Public Administration, a separate museum named "Toshakhana Jadughor" was also built within the museum complex, where valuable gifts and awards received by the country's important personnel are displayed.

Keeping the grand sculpture of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the centre, all the artefacts of this particular museum have been showcased in a corkscrew pattern.

Except for the Toshakhana Jadughor, the entire property belongs to the Ministry of Defence - it is governed and maintained by the military.

Keeping the grand sculpture of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the centre, all the artefacts of this particular museum have been showcased in a corkscrew pattern. Photo: City Syntax

The wide implementation of augmented reality is another praiseworthy feature of this museum. The interactive displays, combining brilliant use of light and virtual reality, not only add to the museum's aesthetic value but also provide better comprehension to the audience.

"Along with highlighting the military's national and international significance, the museum has another significant function. In Dhaka, we lack public spaces. The museum was thoughtfully designed to create a recreational space within the city," said Architect Bayejid Mahbub Khondker, Principal Architect of Nakshabid Architects.

The museum complex also has its own cafeteria, art gallery, and amphitheatre. Sitting arrangements can be found hither and thither. A generous amount of greenery was planted in symmetric intervals to save the area from being a heated island.

As per the client's requirement, Bangabandhu Military Museum was designed maintaining a resemblance with Novo Theatre.

"To make something alike yet unique was quite challenging for me, but I think I did justice to both of these establishments," said Architect Imam, who also happens to be Novo Theatre's key designer.

Hence, similar to the Novo Theatre, the Bangabandhu Military Museum's most imposing feature is the geodesic dome - which stretches 120 feet in diameter - in the centre. The dome reflects on the artificial water body placed in the forepart and looks like a complete sphere.

Photo: City Syntax
Photo: City Syntax

The dome, made of low-emissivity glass, allows an abundance of natural light inside the museum during the daytime, giving the museum a balanced luminescence. Besides, the material also saves the dome from overheating.

"The dome's north-facing position was thoughtfully designed by the architects to save it from direct sunlight," added Tanzim Hasan Salim, Principal Architect of DWG.

The museum's ground floor is made of marble while all the other levels stand on polyurethane flooring. The display shelves are made of glass and metal.

All these materials used and the reflective finishes contribute largely to brightening up the museum's ambience. The railings are also made of glass to ensure utmost transparency from every angle.

Other than natural light, artificial lighting is tailored to each area. Low-level lighting has been used to add dramatic effects inside some displays. In contrast, sunlight contributes to the feeling and vibe of the area.

Around Tk640 crore budget was allocated for this museum. It took almost five years to complete the museum's construction, starting from March 17, 2017 till January 6, 2022.

The project's key constraint was the height restriction as the museum was built on 9.3 acres of land just opposite the old airport, currently being used by the Air Force. As a result, the museum complex's maximum height (especially the dome) had to be reduced to 65 feet.

The entire complex is air-conditioned and artificially ventilated, which includes the dehumidifying process. "Moondust is displayed in the Toshakhana Museum. Such things need meticulous maintenance. So, controlling the temperature and humidity is a must," said Architect Bayejid.

The undisrupted view is one of the fundamental specialities of the entire museum. All the elements have been exhibited in harmony - not a single piece of display distracts from another, creating a perfect juxtaposition. 

Keeping that in mind, the wartime relics, which were previously displayed on a flat surface in the old museum, are now displayed in an outdoor spiral pathway connected to the central complex.

"The best part of displaying something in a spiral pattern is that you can see all the elements together from a single point," said Architect Bayejid, adding, "as you escalate up through the pathway, your background is ever-changing."

Photo: City Syntax

Besides, to keep the museum's frontal view intact so that it can be seen from the Bijoy Sarani Road, the architects avoided constructing traditional boundaries.

"To protect an establishment, boundaries are a must. But, at the same time, the boundaries block views from the outside. Hence, instead of building a fence in the front, we made six-feet deep trenches," informed Architect Bayejid.

The museum is open for all from 10am to 6pm throughout the week. On Fridays, however, the Bangabandhu Military Museum opens at 3pm and closes at 8pm. The entry fee, for locals, is Tk20 only. Around 450 cars can be parked in a circular pattern on the premises at the same time.

The project at a glance: 

Project: Bangabandhu Military Museum

Location: Bijoy Sarani, beside the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theatre in Dhaka

Site Area:  9.3 Acres

Principal Architect: Architect Ali Imam and architect Bayejid Mahbub Khondker 

Landscaping: Ar. Shahidullah Faruq, Ar. Rabiul Islam Rabi

Interior: Design Works Group (DWG), Mukta Dinwiddie MacLaren Architects (MDM) and Journeyman

Lighting: Platform Solution

Budget: Around Tk640 crore 

Time: Almost 5 years (from March 17, 2017 till January 6, 2022)

Features / Top News

Bangladesh / Bangabandhu Military Museum / Bangabandhu / architectural beauty

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • RMG turns to India from China to get cheaper man-made yarn
    RMG turns to India from China to get cheaper man-made yarn
  • Country's revenue earnings were Tk40,000cr more in last fiscal: Finance Minister
    Country's revenue earnings were Tk40,000cr more in last fiscal: Finance Minister
  • The world's richest person is trying to head off a succession battle
    The world's richest person is trying to head off a succession battle

MOST VIEWED

  • Nimah designed by Compass Architects- Wooden tiles. Photo: Junaid Hasan Pranto
    Trendy flooring designs to upgrade any space
  • Benefits of having high ceilings in your new home
    Benefits of having high ceilings in your new home
  • Photo: Noor-A-Alam
    How did mud walls find their way into urban designs?
  • Photo: Collected
    Tips to incorporate sustainable construction
  • Edison Desdemona, the newly launched stellar project of Edison Real Estate, located at Bashundhara Residential Area. Photo: Courtesy
    EDISON DESDEMONA: A creation like no other
  • BruTown by PARTI.studio. Photo: Junaid Hasan Pranto
    Interesting ceiling design ideas to elevate any space

Related News

  • RMG factories running below capacity due to less work orders: BGMEA chief
  • Bangladesh's FY22 GDP insight
  • Decoding Monetary Policy Statement 2023: Was there any better alternative?
  • Manpower export to Malaysia to be made easier, faster: Minister
  • Preparing for the future of AI in the job market: How Bangladesh can thrive in a tech-driven world

Features

Illustration: TBS

Planning to study abroad? Explore these four underrated scholarships

47m | Pursuit
Photo: Reuters

A tragedy that will also shake up the region's geopolitics

14h | Panorama
Nimah designed by Compass Architects- Wooden tiles. Photo: Junaid Hasan Pranto

Trendy flooring designs to upgrade any space

1d | Habitat
Benefits of having high ceilings in your new home

Benefits of having high ceilings in your new home

1d | Habitat

More Videos from TBS

30% companies see double-digit growth even in hard times

30% companies see double-digit growth even in hard times

16h | TBS Insight
Challenging time waiting for RMG

Challenging time waiting for RMG

23h | TBS Round Table
"Full Moon Meditation" organized by Department of Theater and Performance Studies, University of Dhaka

"Full Moon Meditation" organized by Department of Theater and Performance Studies, University of Dhaka

23h | TBS Graduates
10 cricketers who have played over 400 T20 matches

10 cricketers who have played over 400 T20 matches

23h | TBS SPORTS

Most Read

1
Photo: Courtesy
Panorama

From 'Made in Bangladesh' to 'Designed in Bangladesh'

2
Master plan for futuristic Chattogram city in the making
Districts

Master plan for futuristic Chattogram city in the making

3
Photo: Collected
Crime

Prime Distribution MD Mamun arrested in fraud case

4
Leepu realised his love for cars from a young age and for the last 40 years, he has transformed, designed and customised hundreds of cars. Photo: Collected
Panorama

'I am not crazy about cars anymore': Nizamuddin Awlia Leepu

5
Photo: Collected
Startups

ShopUp secures $30m debt financing to boost expansion, supply chain

6
ICB to withdraw Padma Bank investment as return eludes
Banking

ICB to withdraw Padma Bank investment as return eludes

The Business Standard
Top
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • About Us
  • Bangladesh
  • International
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Economy
  • Sitemap
  • RSS

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net

Copyright © 2023 THE BUSINESS STANDARD All rights reserved. Technical Partner: RSI Lab