The presence of the 100-ton boiler from a jute mill in Khulna serves as a chilling reminder of the extreme brutality inflicted by the Pakistan Army during Bangladesh's struggle for liberation in 1971. The steel boiler, used as a tool of mass murder, symbolizes the horrors endured by countless Bengalis at the hands of the Pakistani regime.
The revamped Genocide-Torture Archive and Museum in Khulna, which commemorates its 10th anniversary this May, now houses this grim artifact. The museum aims to shed light on the atrocities committed during the Bangladesh Liberation War, ensuring that the memory of the victims lives on and serves as a cautionary tale for future generations.
Muntassir Mamoon, chairman of the museum's board of trustees, draws a chilling parallel between the horrors of the Bangladesh genocide and the atrocities committed by Hitler during the Holocaust. He emphasizes the need to remember these events to prevent similar atrocities from occurring in the future.
The inclusion of the steel boiler in the museum's collection is a poignant reminder of the barbarity unleashed by the Pakistani regime, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Bengalis and the displacement of millions more. Mamoon accuses the international community, particularly the West, of failing to recognize the genocide adequately, attributing this to geopolitical interests and complicity in the atrocities.
Despite the reluctance of some to acknowledge the full extent of the genocide, the museum stands as a testament to the resilience of the Bangladeshi people and their struggle for justice. It serves as a solemn tribute to the victims and a stark warning against the horrors of unchecked oppression and violence.
Ultimately, the museum's mission is to ensure that the lessons of the past are not forgotten and that the voices of the victims are heard. By confronting the darkest chapters of history, it seeks to foster understanding, empathy, and a commitment to preventing such atrocities from ever happening again.
