National Mausoleum

National Mausoleum in Savar is the emblem of the country’s hard-fought liberation war and the resultant independence way back in 1971. It stands tall like the freedom-loving, valiant Bangalees who fought for the noble cause of liberty from the despotic Pakistani rulers. Bangladesh’s august birth was not so easy primarily. It had a caesarean birth from the erstwhile West Pakistan. It had to stomach multiple pains and miseries for its survival. Earlier, the country passed under the Mughal imperialism and the British Raj. It was 1947 when our motherland got the name East Pakistan and at the same time West Pakistan was trying to underestimate us. And their persecution knew no bounds.

Our guerilla fighters did not retreat and never feared to dedicate their life to keep the map of Bangladesh on the global almanac. The national memorial has been erected to the memory of those three million brothers and sisters fallen in the war. We now savour with deep respect the valour they showed and the sacrifices they made to liberate the country from the cruel clutches of the hyenas. We bow down our heads in solemn silence in honour of the martyred freedom fighters. The monument is located in Savar, about 35 kilometres north-west of the capital. It was designed by Syed Mainul Hossain.

Plans for the monument were initiated in 1976. Following the site selection, road and land development, a nationwide design competition was held in June, 1978. Following evaluation of the 57 submissions, Syed Mainul Hossain’s design was chosen. The main structure and the artificial lake and other facilities were completed in 1982. It was inaugurated at 16 December 1982.

The architecture is composed of seven pairs of triangular-shaped walls or prisms; the outermost pair being the shortest in height but widest in span, the inner pairs gradually change their aspect ratio and the innermost pair thus forms the peak point of the architecture. Each of these seven pairs of walls represents a significant chapter in the history of Bangladesh, namely the Language Movement in 1952, the Election of United Front in 1954, the Constitution Movement in 1956, the Education Movement in 1962, 6-point Movement in 1966, the Mass Uprising in 1969, and finally the climatic event of Liberation War in 1971, through which Bangladesh was liberated.