RAJSHAHI UNIVERSITY. Dec 11 : Manifold problems have gripped Rajshahi University Shahid Smriti Sangrahashala, the first ever memorial museum of the martyrs of our Liberation War.

Situated at the heart of the university campus near the Central Shaheed Mlnar and surrounded by a garden, a pucca theatre. Paris Road and Sher-e-Bangla Hall.the centre has a spectaular view. Its lovely view easily attracts any visitor.

The collection centre is enriched with different types of valuable collections. The collections include memorials relating to long arduous movements from 1952 to 1971.

The centre was Initiated in 1976 by some youths of the university such as Prof Hasan Azizul Haq. eminent cultural activist late Nasim Mahmud and the then Vice- Chancellor of the university Prof Syed Ali Ahsan. Education Advisor to the President Prof Abul Fazal also played a laudable role in establishing the landmark museum.

The centre preserves different token materials involving our Liberation War. Lahguage movement and other movements leading to indepence. It

included photographs of the freedom fighters, war fronts, national heroes, training of the freedom fighters, genocide by the Occupation Pakistan Army and their collaborators, tortures against women, Prisoners Of War and other related issues. Besides, there are some invaluable diaries, garments, shoes and other materials used by the intellectuals and martyrs, arms and amounitton used by the Occupation Pakistan Army and other forces and freedom fighters. excavated materials from the mass graves, different documents relating to the Liberation War and press clippings.

There are three galleries, a library and an office In the collection centre. Three personnel Including a curator are in-charge of the museum. A large number of visitors such as students. teachers, researchers and outsiders from different districts of the country including foreigners visited the museum. It remains open from 9am till 2pm in all working days.

But such an important es-tabishment have been facing manifold problems as insecurity, financial constralnsts, inadequate manpower, and lack of modernigation.

The museum lacks proper security measures to protect all the invaluables of national interest. There is no grill surrounding the galleries where the invaluable* are preserved. Again there is no guard here.. So. tight security measures must be taken to protect the invaluables.

The limited financial grant hampares the normal expansion activities of the museum. "We cannot collect a lot of in-valuables only because of lack of adquate financial grants". Curator of the centre Monsur Ali told this correspondent adding "A bus is essential with a view to collecting materials of the martyrs from remote areas of the country". Again, the education programme, a programme to make the students of different schools and colleges familiar with the great movements including liberation war, also require.financial support.' he also said

No directory of the museum has been published because of financial limitations. There is a library inside the office room with only 6-8 seat capacity. There is no library staff. The curator himself takes care of this. The invaluable docu-

ments. papers, books and other materials are kept piled up on the chairs and tables. Hence, there is no required number of furniture. The library is yet to make prosperous though a good number of students, teachers, and researchers come to use it.

There is no adequate number of staffers to run the museum well. There are only three staffers including an officer to look after the musum. There is no guide to make the visitors familiar with the museum. There is no librarian in the concerned library. So, the number of staff should be increased to function the museum well.

It is mentionable that three years ago a project was taken to modernise the centre with suggestions from prominent artists Hasan Khan, Niton Kundu. Prof Hasan Azizul Haq and Prof Chowdhury Julflkar Matin. But the project was shelved because of fund constraints.

If the authorities concerned pay attenUon and provide necessary funds for such a prestl-gous museum it can attract a rge number of visitors from home and abroad.