Bangladesh Railway Museum crumbles amid bureaucratic bickering

The Bangladesh Railway Museum in Chattogram's Pahartali, the country's only institution dedicated to preserving its rich railway heritage, has been closed to the public since 2018. The closure is attributed to neglect and a bureaucratic blame game between the Bangladesh Railway and the Chattogram City Corporation, leaving the museum's historical artifacts to decay.

Once a thriving repository of railway memorabilia, machinery, and equipment, the museum now stands in a state of disrepair. The two-story wooden bungalow that houses the museum has been left to deteriorate, with no clear plan for its restoration or reopening. The blame for this situation has been passed back and forth between the Bangladesh Railway and the Chattogram City Corporation, resulting in a stalemate that has left the museum's future uncertain.

The museum's collection includes valuable pieces of Bangladesh's railway history, such as old locomotives, signaling equipment, and photographs documenting the evolution of the country's rail network. These artifacts are now at risk of being lost forever due to the lack of proper maintenance and preservation.

Why this matters: The closure of the Bangladesh Railway Museum in Chattogram represents a significant loss for the country's cultural heritage. The museum's collection serves as a reminder of the role railways have played in Bangladesh's development and the need to preserve this history for future generations.

Despite the formation of a joint management committee to address the issue, no concrete steps have been taken to reopen the museum. As a result, the public remains deprived of access to this valuable resource, and the historical treasures contained within continue to deteriorate. Until the authorities take decisive action to restore and reopen the museum, this important piece of Bangladesh's railway heritage remains at risk of being lost forever.

Key Takeaways

• Bangladesh's only railway museum closed to public since 2018 due to neglect.
• Blame game between Bangladesh Railway and Chattogram City Corporation led to museum's decay.
• Museum's collection of historical railway artifacts at risk of being lost forever.
• Closure represents a significant loss for Bangladesh's cultural heritage.
• No concrete steps taken to restore and reopen the museum despite a joint committee.