FROM SYLHET: It is all about the Bhasha Sainik Matin Uddin Ahmed Museum of Sylhet which exhibits an antique collection including of clocks, gold coins, relics and inscriptions. Despite the invaluable collection, the museum lacks attention of visitors.
There is a clock in the museum which is about three hundred to four hundred years old. At least fifty such centuries-old clocks are there which remind the visitors that how much time has passed away.
Purpose of the museum is to keep that time standstill. There are also gold coins, aged about two thousand years.
There are saris of more than two hundred years old with gold embroidery along with some common saris. There are canons and ammunitions used in the 2nd World War.
When the language veteran Matin Uddin wanted to set up a museum with own collections during his lifetime. In that line director of the museum at his own initiative has collected various displayable articles from home and abroad including some antiques.
Meanwhile, some visitors have seen the museum expressed their surprise. The list of dignitaries also includes incumbent finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith.
Many people visited the museum to see the centuries old relics. Many foreigners pass hours together here to see the museum. But the number of visitors and tourists are remarkably low just because this museum gets little publicity.
Director of Bhasha Sainik Matin Uddin Ahmed Museum Dr. Mostofa Shahzaman Chowdhury Bahar told banglanews that Matin Uddin museum is the only archaeological museum in Sylhet division, which is priceless in Sylhet as well as the country.
After going around the museum it was found that there are old days royal articles even it contains the slave purchasing deeds. This house contains the hand fan made of ivory which was presented to Dewan Raja Masum of Doarabazar of Sunamgaj by Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Odissa Alivardi Khan as a mark of friendship.
Many lost articles of past days can also be seen in this museum. There is a Sanskrit inscription of 1719 and also Orient Press of 1946.
The museum covering 500 square feet space is located on the 4th floor of the central Muslim Shahittya Sangsad by the Mazar of Hazrat Shahjalal (R). The museum director informed this correspondent that in future in his absence the central Muslim Shahittya Sangsad will take its responsibility.
The initiator and the person who made the treasure of collection Matin Uddin was born on June 10 of 1900 in Zakiganj upazilla of Sylhet.
In Sylhet he was the first man who held meetings and rallies for Bangla as state language of the then Pakistan. He convened a meeting at central Muslim Shahittya Sangsad on November 9 of 1947.
On November 30 of the same year he held first rally on language at Sylhet Alia Madrasha ground. Interestingly, till then no rally or meeting was held in any place of the country on the issue of state language.
BDST: 1950 HRS, JUL 23, 2016
Shahjahan/RR/SMS
