Firoza or Jamuna: Where will the new prime minister reside?

Following the fall of the Awami League government in the historic student-public uprising, the official prime minister's residence 'Ganabhaban' has now become the 'July Memorial Museum'. This raises the question: where will the country's next prime minister reside?

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured a landslide victory in the 13th national parliamentary election held on Thursday, February 12. Consequently, when the party's top leader Tarique Rahman takes oath as the new prime minister, the administration has selected the Chief Adviser's residence for the new prime minister.

The Ministry of Housing and Public Works has informed that 'Jamuna', the residence of the Chief Adviser of the interim government, is being prepared as the new prime minister's residence. Jamuna has been kept as the primary choice due to its infrastructure and security arrangements being suitable for the head of government.

In this regard, Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department Md Khalequezzaman Choudhury said, "We assume that where the Chief Adviser is currently residing could be the prime minister's residence for now. However, the matter is not yet confirmed. The prime minister himself will decide which option will be most convenient for him."

Alongside Jamuna, Tarique Rahman's mother's memorial residence 'Firoza' or the residence at 196 Gulshan is also under discussion. However, according to security analysts, considering the difficulty of ensuring the head of government's security in a residential area and the travel distance and traffic congestion from Gulshan to the parliament building, it might be more reasonable to reside in a government reserved building.

Khalequezzaman Choudhury added, "The matter of Tarique Rahman's residence depends entirely on the new government's decision. Arrangements will be made according to the government's directives."

It is noteworthy that during the 1991-96 term, then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina resided at the house on 29 Minto Road. Current BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia last moved into this house in 1996. However, since 2001, no opposition leader has resided in that house.