Water fountains to replace sculptures of Sheikh Mujib's March 7 speech, Pakistani army's surrender at Suhrawardy Udyan

The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has taken the initiative to install water fountains instead of the proposed sculptures at the historic sites of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's March 7 speech and the surrender of the Pakistani army on December 16, 1971, at Suhrawardy Udyan.

It has been learned that the ministry mentioned this proposal as part of changing and redesigning the project in its recent progress report. At the same time, it was informed that steps are being taken to change the holographic 3D presentation of the March 7 speech.

The work on the project titled 'Construction of Swadhinata Stambha at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka' under the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs began in 2018. Its tenure is scheduled to end in June 2027.

Under this project, initiatives were taken to build two sculptures at the sites of Bangabandhu's March 7 speech and the Pakistani army's surrender.

But after the fall of the Awami League-led government on August 5, 2024, that initiative stalled. The two sites where sculpture construction work was ongoing were also vandalised.

Later, in March last year, the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus said the two sculptures at Suhrawardy Udyan would not be built.

Now the BNP-led government has taken the initiative to install water fountains at those two sites.

Shahjahan Mia, who is serving as Additional Secretary of the Planning and Development Division of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, said, "How will I speak on this? I do not have the scope to speak. You go to Polly Kar. Polly Kar will explain in detail."

It may be mentioned that the report in which the ministry expressed the opinion of installing water fountains bears the signature of Deputy Secretary Polly Kar.

When contacted, she said she does not have permission to speak to the media. However, she acknowledged that her signature is on the document.

Project Director Pranab Kumar Saha could not be reached despite attempts. He did not answer the phone despite multiple calls.

Sculptures of Bangabandhu's March 7 speech and the Pakistani army's surrender were supposed to be built at this part of Suhrawardy Udyan.

According to ministry documents, the estimated cost of the third phase (first revised) of the project is Tk 397 crore. Up to June 2026, the financial progress of the project is 75.91 percent; physical progress is 94 percent.

Citing the ministry's opinion, the document stated that under the project, instead of constructing sculptures at the two historic sites of the March 7 speech and the surrender of the Pakistani army on December 16, 1971, water fountains will be installed. The document also mentioned redesigning for this purpose.