Bangabandhu Memorial Trust

Bangabandhu Memorial Trust is a trust in Bangladesh that was created to remember Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding president of Bangladesh. His daughter and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the chair of the trust. ^{[1] [2]}

History

On 11 April 1994, Sheikh Hasina established the Bangabandhu Memorial Trust. On 6 September 1994, Hasina handed over the deed of Bangabandhu Bhaban, the personal residence to Bangabandhu Memorial Trust. The trust turned Bangabandhu Bhaban in to a museum, Bangabandhu Memorial Museum. The first head of the museum was A. F. Salahuddin Ahmed. After Ahmed died, Hashem Khan took over as the head of the museum. The trust established the Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Mujib Memorial KPJ Specialized Hospital, named after Mujibur Rahman's wife Fazilatunnesa. ^[3]

On 17 May 2017, a consortium of banks donated 1360 million Bangladeshi taka ($16.7M as of 2017) to the trust along with Prime Minister’s Education Assistance Trust and Shuchona Foundation. ^[4] On 6 January 2020, Standard Bank donated 100 million taka to the trust on the occasion of Mujib Year. ^[5] Five other banks also donated large amounts to the trust on occasion of Mujib Year. ^[6] The Ministry of Education ordered the nationalization of 15 colleges named after Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members after the trust and trust chairperson Hasina approved the nationalization as Prime Minister. ^[7]

After the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government fell, the new regime led by Muhammad Yunus imposed income tax on the trust revoking its tax-exempt status. ^[8] At the same the National Board of Revenue revoked tax-exempt status of Shurer Dhara, founded by Rezwana Choudhury Bannya; Lalit Mohan Dhanbati Memorial Foundation; Wadud Bhuyan Scholarship Trust; the Centre for Research and Information, and the President Abdul Hamid Foundation. ^[9] The Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, managed by the trust, was destroyed in February 2025 as part of Bulldozer March. ^[10] The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit began an investigation into the trust. ^[11]

References

1. "Bangabandhu Memorial Trust meets". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
2. "PM chairs Bangabandhu Memorial Trust meeting". Dhaka Tribune. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
3. "Tracing the beginnings of the Bangabandhu Memorial Trust". Dhaka Tribune. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
4. "Banks donate Tk 136cr to prime minister". The Daily Star. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
5. "Standard Bank donates Tk10 crore to Bangabandhu Memorial Trust". The Business Standard. 9 January 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
6. "Banks' donations to Bangabandhu Memorial Trust". Daily Sun. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
7. "Bangladesh nationalises 28 colleges; 15 named after Bangabandhu and family". bdnews24.com. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
8. "Income tax levied on Bangabandhu Memorial Trust, CRI benefits revoked". Bdnews24.com . Retrieved 2 April 2025.
9. "NBR revokes tax rebate on donations to five more trusts, foundations linked to AL". The Business Standard. 19 November 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
10. "The story of Dhanmondi 32, Mujibur Rahman's home now reduced to ruins in Dhaka". The Indian Express. 6 February 2025. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
11. "Bangabandhu Trust, Hasina, Rehana accounts under probe". The Financial Express. Retrieved 2 April 2025.