PM Hasina approves Swadhinata Stambha design

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today approved the design of the Master Plan of Swadhinata Stambha (Independence Monument, third phase) being constructed at Suhrawardy Uddyan in the capital.

The prime minister gave the approval during a power-point presentation on the project at her official residence Ganobhaban.

PM's press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the presentation.

He said Chief Architect of Department of Architecture Qazi Golam Nasir and Deputy Chief Architect Asifur Rahman Bhuiyan made the presentation.

Sheikh Hasina witnessed the presentation attentively and gave some necessary directives instantly.

Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Relief and Disaster Management Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haq and Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor attended the meeting.

PM's Principal Secretary Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, Works Secretary Shahidullah Khandakar and Liberation War Affairs Secretary Aporup Chowdhury were, among others, present.

'Shadhinota Stambha' has been built under the supervision of the Liberation War Affairs Ministry.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh National Museum constructed the 'Swadhinata Jadughar' (Museum of Independence) under the project.

The Museum of Independence has a plaza of 5,669 sq miters surrounded by fountains.

The symbol of Bengali nationalism 'Shikha Chirontoni' has been erected alongside the museum with a mural of liberation war nearby.

A 155-seat modern auditorium has also been established at the upper part of the museum.

As for the Independence Monument, it is a glass tower which is 150-ft high. The spotlight at the foot of the tower can shoot up to 5 km in the sky.

The features of the Museum of Independence include a compiled projection of Bengali history on 144 panels, recreation of Pakistani military's surrender, light and sound shows to deliver a more realistic presentation of Liberation War and massacre of 1971, regular display of Liberation War films.