Brief History Of Bangabhaban

 
Bangabhaban, the office-cum-residence of the Hon'ble President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is the symbol of pride and glory of the Bangali nation. Bangabhaban started its journey against the backdrop of the creation of historic new province named Eastern Bengal and Assam out of the old Bengal Presidency in 1905. By a proclamation being sanctioned by His Majesty the King, Emperor of India; the Governor-General in Council was pleased to declare and constitute the new province on 1st September, 1905 during the regime of Lord Curzon. Dhaka became the capital of newly constituted Province. The authority also appointed Sir Joseph Bampfylde Fuller, a member of Indian Civil Service, as the first Lieutenant-Governor of the province.

With the appointment of Lieutenant-Governor, a suitable residence cum office was needed for him and his staff. At this juncture, the Nawab's family of Dhaka offered the Dilkhusa Garden House area for the construction of the office-cum-residence of the Lieutenant-Governor. At that time Sir Khwaja Salimullah was the Nawab of Dhaka. However, it was decided that the temporary office-cum-residence for Lieutenant-Governor would be built in the southern part of Dilkhusa. In accordance with the decision, the construction of the building was started in August-September, 1905. After completing the Bungalow type office-cum-residence for Lieutenant-Governor, it became familiar as the 'Temporary Government House'. Sir Joseph Bampfylde Fuller, the first Lieutenant-Governor and chief ruler of Eastern Bengal and Assam, entered the Government House on 14 February, 1906, and therefore the journey of Government House came into being. Within the short span of time, this temporary accommodation turned into 'Dilkhusa Government House'.

Apart from Sir Bampfylde Fuller, Sir Lancelot Hare, Sir Charles Stuart Bayley, the Lieutenant-Governors of Eastern Bengal and Assam and their spouses lived in the 'Temporary Government House' and decorated it with British taste and tradition and turned it into the political, social and cultural hub of the provincial capital which continued even after many vicissitudes of history.

On 12 December 1911, King George V at the Delhi Durbar announced the annulment of the partition of Bengal. Thereafter, many Governors visited Dhaka and stayed at the Government House till 1947. At that time, Dhaka was considered as the second capital of Bengal and thus importance of the House continued.

After the end of colonial chapter, nearly two hundred years of British Rule, two separate independent sovereign states namely Pakistan and India were created on 14th and 15th August respectively in 1947. East Bengal became a province of the new state of Pakistan with Dhaka as its capital. At this time, a Provincial head was appointed with designation "Governor" and his office-cum-residence was housed in former Dilkhusa Government House. From now on the office-cum-residence of Governor was renamed as 'Governor House'. Governor House turned into the central focus of the province. 

Following the devastating cyclone on 9 May, 1961 that hit all over East Bengal including Dhaka causing large scale damage and destruction of Governor House, and immediate renovation of this building was urgently needed. Amidst the great initiative and efforts of the then Governor Lieutenant-General Mohammad Azam Khan, the Governor House was reconstructed in 1964 as a palatial building with the touch of modern architectural design. From the first Governor of Pakistan Sir Frederick Chalmers Bourne in 1947 to the last Governor Dr. A. M. Malik till 1971 lived in this house.

Independence is the greatest achievement of the Bangali nation, but it could not be attained overnight. By passing a long-rugged way and ups and downs, we reached our cherished destination  our independence by dint of matchless valour, undaunted courage, immense sacrifices, visionary leadership and right guidance of our great leader, Father of the Nation Bangabndhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

On 07 March in 1971, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered the historic address before a mammoth gathering at the then Race Course Maidan ignoring the blood-shot eyes of the then Pakistani rulers which was the true mandate of emancipation of the Bangalis. Considering the political situation and envisaging the emotion, dream and desire of the Bangali, Bangabandhu uttered in his speech with thunderous voice, "The struggle this time is a struggle for emancipation, the struggle this time is a struggle for independence" which was, in fact, the true charter of our independence. How an address can rouse the whole nation, inspire them to leap into war of liberation for independence, the historic Speech by Bangabandhu on 7th March is its unique example. UNESCO has recognized the 7th March Speech of Bangabandhu as part of the 'World's Documentary Heritage' and included it in the 'Memory of the World International Register' on 30th October 2017. As the Bangali, we feel proud of this.

 In line with the historic address on March 07 in 1971, Father of the Nation, finally, declared the long-cherished independence at the early hours on 26th March in 1971. Immediately after the declaration of independence, the Pakistani Junta arrested Bangabandhu from his Dhanmondi residence of road no.32 and confined him in Pakistan Jail. In absence of Bangabandhu, the liberation war was being conducted under his leadership. On 16 December, 1971 the Bangali nation achieved ultimate victory through a nine-month long armed struggle. An independent and sovereign state emerged in the world map.

During the war of liberation, in absence of Bangabandhu, the first government was constituted which is called the 'Mujibnagar Government' on 10th April, 1971.  Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was made the President of the Republic. In absence of Bangabandhu, Sayed Nazrul Islam became Acting President and Tajuddin Ahmed was made the Prime Minister. On December 23, the first Cabinet meeting of newly born Bangladesh was held in Dilkhusa Governor House with Acting President Sayed Nazrul Islam in the Chair. Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed and other members of the Cabinet attended the meeting. According to the decision of the meeting, the Governor House was renamed as Bangabhaban. On January 10, 1972 Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returned home being freed from his captive life in Pakistan. As parliamentary system was introduced in the country, Bangabandhu reigned from the post of the President and took the charge of Prime Minister at Bangabhaban on 12 January 1972.