SECURITY OF MUSEUMS IN DHAKA CITY

Jahangir Hussain*

Security means protection against theft, fraud and vandalism. However, a good security system is concerned with all types of risk. Museums and other cultural heritage organizations and sites are threatened with robbery, vandalism and burglary, bombing, arson, accidental explosions, earthquake, tornado, floods, fire and other similar occurrences.

Gary Edson and David Dean in their influential book The Handbook for Museums discussed museum security thus: “Museum security is the philosophy and activity of providing an environment in which people and objects may be as free from threat of harm or damage as possible". Using this as a broad definition, there are several elements involved in such security. These include: staff, barriers, signage, collection management practices, housekeeping activities, environmental monitoring, alarms and surveillances and security plan.

Museums of Dhaka City

In 1971, the People's Republic of Bangladesh emerged as an independent sovereign country. It has a territory of nearly 1,44,000 square kilometre and a population of about 140 million. This makes Bangladesh one of the world's most densely populated countries. It has a long history and a rich cultural heritage. The country also possesses a wide variety of flora and fauna and natural resources.

At present there are about 140 museums in Bangladesh . The government established some museums and the local authorities and societies established some others. Some private museums are also in existence.

Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh . About 10.2 million people live in Dhaka . It has old history and heritage. There are about 48 museums in Dhaka City .

I studied the security systems of museums of Dhaka City . The purposes of the study are as follows:

1. Evaluating the present trends of museums security;

2. Investigating the patterns of museums security and management;

3. Assessing security systems of museums, security personnel and equipments;

4. Evaluating the over all situation.

Bangladesh National Museum , Dhaka

Bangladesh National Museum is the successor to the Dhaka Museum established in 1913. In 1983, the government of Bangladesh through an ordinance converted the Dhaka Museum into the Bangladesh National Museum , which has the largest collection of cultural property in the country.

Bangladesh National Museum is located at the heart of the capital city of Dhaka , which has an area of eight acres of land. It is a multi-disciplinary Museum. There are about 85000 objects in the Museum. It has four curatorial departments, two service departments and Administration, Finance and Security Department.

The security of Bangladesh National Museum is looking after by a strong security section, which works under the direct supervision of the Director General and Administration Department. The Security section is headed by the Senior Security Officer assisted by 1 Security Officer, 2 Security Supervisors, 4 Assistant Security Supervisors, 100 Security Guards & 4 other support staff.

Coins of Bangladesh National Museum

Existing security system of Bangladesh National Museum includes the following tools/methods:

1.     Security personnel;

2.     Fire extinguisher;

3.     Water line water and sand in separate containers;

4.     Security locking;

5.     Sealing system in the locks

6.     Roaster Committee;

7.     Metal Detector;

8.     Walkie talkie;    

9. Ansar/Ansar with arms;

10. Gate pass for objects;

11. Gate pass for non-object materials;

12. Emergency Electric supply (Electric Generator);

13. Charge light, torchlight, etc,

14. First Aid Box;

15. Archway Metal Detector Machine;

16. C.C.T.V;

17. Left Luggage counter.²

Ivory object of Bangladesh National Museum

Visnu Bronze-BNM	Nataraj Siva Black Basalt, 11th Century -BNM

Considering the increased security threat, Bangladesh National Museum has installed Archway Metal Detector Machine, and the obsolete Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) system has been replaced. There are 20 cameras, 1 DVD and 5 monitors. After introducing these two systems, the security system of Bangladesh National Museum has improved to a great extent. Use of other sophisticated machines and equipment are under the active consideration of the Museum authorities.

Ahsan Manzil Museum , Dhaka

Ahsan Manzil Museum stands on the bank of river Buriganga, and the river being on the south of Dhaka . It was originally built in the eighteenth century and was the palace of the Nawabs of Dhaka. In 1872, the palace was rebuilt and Nawab Abdul Ghani (1813-96) named it Ahsan Manzil after the name of his son Khwaja Ahsanullah (late Nawab Sir Ahsanullah Bahadur, 1846-1901).

Ahsan Manzil Museum

From the middle of the nineteenth century about a period of hundred years onwards, this palace was the major political centre of Bengal . The magnificent palace was renovated to a museum and opened for visitors in 1992. There are 23 galleries in the museum. The palace enjoys immense historical importance. The artefacts displayed in the museum are the personal belongings of Nawabs, their furniture, cookeries, books, photographs, showing the activities of Nawabs and portraits of the then elites of society. Most of the galleries have displayed with the help of photographs of 1904 collected from the India Office Library currently located in British Library in London .

A part-time security officer under the supervision of Deputy-Keeper is in-charge of the security system of Ahsan Manzil Museum . There are 1 Security Supervisor, 20 Security Guards and 2 other support staffs in the security section.

The existing security system of the Museum embodies the following tools/ methods:

1. Security personnel;

2. Fire extinguisher;

3. Water line, water and sand in separate containers;

4. Security locking; 5. Sealing system in the locks;

6. Roaster committee;

7. Metal Detector;

8. Walkie talkie;

9. Ansar/Ansar with arms;

10. Gate passes for objects;

11. Gate passes for non-object materials;

12. Emergency electric supply (Electric Generator);

13. Charge light, torchlight, etc;

14. First Aid Box;

15. Left luggage counter.

Postal Museum, Dhaka

Postal Museum started in 1985. It is situated in the Postal Bhaban (Building) near Dhaka General Post Office. It is a specialized museum, and its area covers 2160 sft in two rooms. Different types of postal materials, stamps, letterboxes, stamp pads, franking machines, dress and other accessories are in the display of the museum. There are stamps from 191 countries with their history, heritage and natural beauties of those countries. There are also portraits of pioneer of postal service and models of real postal services.

Postal Museum

A supervisor and three peon/guards are responsible for the security system of the Postal Museum . The museum authority have undertaken a development programme to develop the museum as well as the security system of the museum with CCTV, Archway metal detector machine, etc.

Zoo Museum , Dhaka

Zoo Museum established in Dhaka Zoo under the Ministry of Livestock. The museum started in 1974 to acquaint the visitors with human heritage, variety and history of birds, animals, etc. of our country. The museum collects, preserves and displays specimens. The aim of the museum is to create common awareness among the students/visitors towards preserving the rare species of animals and generate overall love for them.

Zoo Museum

There are two galleries in the museum with 310-sqm-display area. One gallery is for fish aquarium and others for dummy, mommy, model, eggs of different birds and animals. Aquatic animals are also kept with formalin in the jar.

The central security section of Dhaka Zoo looks after the security system of the Zoo Museum . One officer (Taxidermist) is in-charge of the museum. As many as seven persons are responsible for security of the museum. At night two Ansars are deployed in the museum area. Security locking, gate pass for both object and non-objects materials are in practice.

M. R. Tarafder Memorial Museum , Dhaka University , Dhaka

The Department of Islamic History and Culture of the University of Dhaka started the museum in a room of the Arts Building in 1970. After the death of Professor Momtazur Rahman Tarafder (M.R. Tarafder, 1928-97) it renamed as M.R. Tarafder Memorial Museum . The coins, sculptures, inscriptions, paper documents and other artefacts are in the display of the museum. The department runs it with only one staff looking after it. Overall security is taken care of by the University Authority.

Dhaka University Zoology Museum , Dhaka

Dhaka University Zoology Museum established in the second floor in the Department of Zoology of the University of Dhaka . It is in a big room covering an area of 170 sqm. It is not open for public as the museum is exclusively for the students and researchers for study purposes. The objects of the museum are: stuffed animals and birds of different species, model and skeleton of animals and different parts of animals. There are also skeleton of humans, crocodiles, snake, dolphin, birds, etc.

University authority shoulders the responsibility of security of the museum. Two persons under the supervision of the Zoology Department look after the objects of the museum.

National Museum of Science and Technology, Dhaka

National Museum of Science and Technology initially started in 1966 in the Public Library, Shahbagh, Dhaka . It had been transferred to three places before it was shifted to the present permanent site at Agargaon in 1987. There are five galleries. In the galleries, there are embryos of man, bird, animal including their forms, different models of solar region, moon and boat. There are also different scientific apparatus, old machineries and biological species.

National Museum of Science and Technology

An attractive item is a statue of a dinosaur in front of the museum building. There are telescopes to observe the space and planets in the second floor of the museum.

Science Museum Gallery

Science Museum Object

Superintendent of the museum looks after the security system. As many as seven peons and guards are responsible for the security of the museum. Different tools of the museum are: fire extinguisher, security locking, roaster committee, metal detector, gate passes, emergency electric supply, first aid box and left luggage counter, etc.

DUCSU Shangrahasalah, Dhaka University , Dhaka

DUCSU (Dhaka University Central Student Union) Shangrahasalah was established in 1992 after the then DUCSU Office bearers had taken such an initiative in 1991. The objects of the museum are posters, photographs, documents, paper clippings, portraits of different movements, liberation war and language movement.

One person, who is also an ex-employee of DUCSU, looks after the management and security of the museum. However, the University authority maintains this museum.

Dhaka City Museum , Dhaka

Dhaka City Museum started functioning as a movable museum in 1987. Dhaka City Corporation took charge of the museum and finally it was placed in the fifth floor of the Nagar Bhaban ( City Corporation Building ) in 1996. It aims at preserving the past history and heritage of the Dhaka City . The museum is in a big room in the Nagar Bhaban. There are paintings of Eid and Muharram processions of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, model of old arts, photographs of different mosques, temples and historical buildings, paper clippings, antiques, portraits of leaders of the then Dhaka, etc.

The security personnel of the City Corporation look after the security of the museum situated in a room of Nagar Bhaban. During visiting hours, there are three staffs to look after the museum.

Liberation War Museum , Dhaka

Liberation War Museum established with a private initiative and started functioning in 1996 in a rented house in Segunbagicha, Dhaka . In the museum, there are six galleries where documents of our proud history are displayed. The history of the erstwhile East Pakistan , 9-month war of liberation in 1971, different actions of our great freedom fighters, artefacts of war and related objects, dresses, badges of freedom fighters, arms, portraits, paper clippings, killings of Pakistani army, etc. are in the display.

The security system is taken care of by private security personnel. The security tools/methods that exist in the museum include fire extinguisher, metal detector, CC TV, First Aid box, gate passes, emergency electric supply, charge light, torch light, etc.

Liberation War Museum

Lalbagh Fort Museum , Dhaka

Lalbagh is a fort palace. Prince Muhammad Azam, Subadar (1678-88) the third son of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb (1658-1707), and Subadar Shayesta Khan (1664-78) constructed it during the second half of the seventeenth century. In the fort, there are the tomb of Bibi Pari (daughter of Subadar Shayesta Khan and wife of Prince Muhammad Azam), a masjid and a Hammam. After several uses of the fort by the different agencies, it was renovated by the Department of Archaeology and converted into a museum. The museum was formally inaugurated on 16 March 1974 .

Paribibir Mazar

The objects of the museum are arms and armour, coins, ceramics, Carpets, miniatures, specimens of calligraphy, manuscripts, firmans, documents, etc. The security system of the museum is taken care of by a number of security personnel which includes 19-security guards and museum attendants and 10-armed Ansars.

Azam Shah Mosque

Custodian and Assistant Custodian in addition to their normal duties, also take care of the overall security of the fort including the museum. The museum is equipped with fire extinguisher, security locking and Metal Detector; Charge light, Torchlight, etc. The systems of gate pass for objects and non-object materials prevail.

Bangladesh Rifles Museum , Dhaka

Bangladesh Rifles Museum came into being in 1996 at the Head Quarters of the Bangladesh Rifles, Peelkhana, Dhaka . It was established mainly to acknowledge the important role and the great sacrifices of Bangladesh Rifles (the then EPR) personnel in the great Liberation War of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Rifles Museum

The objects of the museum are portraits of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, 7 other Great Heroes, administrators of ancient Bengal , politicians, martyrs of the language movement, arms and armour, coins, sculptures, artefacts of Liberation War and other relevant documents.

The museum is well protected as it is situated inside the Head Quarters of the Bangladesh Rifles near the main gate. Security personnel remain vigilant for 24 hours. Besides, one NCO and two BDR personnel are on duty round the clock.

Military Museum , Dhaka

Bangladesh Army is the vital part of the defence forces of Bangladesh . The Military Museum established in 1987 to collect, preserve and display the heritage, history, success and development of Bangladesh Army. It was shifted to its permanent place at Bijoy Saroni in 1999.

The main objects of the museum are arms and armour, transport of different times, canon, anti-aircraft guns, portraits of heroes of the Liberation War, Sector Commanders and Chief of Staffs of Bangladesh Army, dress, badges, cap, model, etc. Its security arrangement is controlled by the military. Sufficient numbers of army personnel are posted to look after the security of the museum.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum , Dhaka

Bngabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum was established on 14 August 1994 . He was the great leader of the Bengali nation who took the leadership in 1962. Under his dynamic leadership, his party won the majority seats in the general election of 1970. However, due to various political conflicts the election resulted in the War of Liberation in 1971. After the independence, Mujibur Rahman became the President and Prime Minister of Bangladesh . He is the Father of the Nation. On 15 August 1975 , Bangabandhu was assassinated in his house; and hence, the memorial museum was established in that house.

The museum objects include portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family who were killed on the same day, personal belongings of himself and of his family, his photographs with world leaders, historical documents, newspapers and paper clippings, dresses of the family members, etc. The security personnel look after the security system of the museum. Metal detector is also used at the gate.

Shahid Matiur Rahman Memorial Museum , Dhaka

Shahid Matiur Rahman Memorial Museum started in 2000 in the Nabakumar Institution. Matiur was a student of Class X of the school. He was shot dead during the mass movement in 1969. The museum is housed in a room of the school, and it displays the diorama of mass -movement where Matiur and his other associates were in the procession. A library was also established along side the museum and named after Matiur Rahman. The school authority looks after the security system of the museum and the library.

Bijoy Keton Museum , Dhaka Cantonment, Dhaka

The Bijoy Keton Museum was established at the Dhaka Cantonment in 1999. The objects of the museum are related to the liberation war and the role of defence forces of Bangladesh . Photographs, models, historical documents, paper clippings, arms and armour of the defence forces, etc. are displayed in the museum. As it is within the cantonment area and run by the Bangladesh Army the security system is looked after by the Bangladesh Army.

Besides the above-mentioned museums there are also few departmental, society and personal museums under different departments, societies and persons in Dhaka . The list of these museums is shown in annexure.

Language Movement Museum Gallery

Observation

Museum security is a most important factor for the safeguard of antiquities and national heritage, which have outstanding significance. There are 48 museums in Dhaka City . Although a large number of museums are under government and semi-government control, only National Museum , museums under Defence forces and museums under Department of Archaeology are functioning smoothly. Their security systems are comparatively better. The security system of other museums is not up to mark. Most of the museum personnel of Dhaka City are not well aware of museum security.

As far as security is concerned, each artefact should be maintained and properly documented. Each artefact should be photographed, catalogued and published for the safeguard of the artefacts. If the museum artefacts are widely published, they will be more secured, as they will be well known to all and nobody will be able to keep it in their custody. For example, it can be said that nobody will be able to keep the Mona Lisa in his custody, because it is well known that she is the property of Louvre Museum .

Most of the museums of Dhaka City maintain their security by security personnel. As a whole the security of museums of Dhaka is not of international standard. Many of the museums have no modern equipments for security. Most of the museums depend on ordinary guards. However, many of them have now introduced Archway Machine and Metal Detector. However, the security systems of Military Museum , Bijoy Keton Museum and Bangladesh Rifles Museum are controlled by the Military and BDR respectively.

Problems

To ensure the proper security of the museums, the authorities of most of the museums are facing different problems, such as: inadequate fund, shortage of manpower, lack of proper training of the security personnel, shortage of adequate modern equipment for security, lack of awareness and of integrated coordination among different stakeholders.

Conclusion

Objects are most valuable and precious possessions of a museum, so their security is also very important. Keeping this in view, the following measures for security system should be undertaken:

1. Modern security systems including machineries should be introduced in the museums;

2. Every year the security system should be reviewed;

3. Fire and Burglar Alarm systems should be introduced with link to Police Station;

4. Workshops and short training programmes for security personnel should be arranged regularly;

5. Security awareness should be created among the individual personnel;

6. Object ID programme should be introduced in each museum;

7. Every object of the museum should be properly documented and published;

8. Communications should be established with security associations and international security forums.

ANNEXURE

List of the Museums in Dhaka City

1. Bangladesh Supreme Court Shangrahshala, Dhaka (1995)

2. Nazrul Museum, Nazrul Institute, Dhaka (1986)

3. Dhaka Cantonment Bangabandhu Museum , Dhaka (1998)

4. Azmal Anesthetic Museum , Dhaka (1988)

5. Ulfat Rana Mini Museum , Dhaka ;

6. October Memorial Museum , Jaganath Hall, Dhaka University , Dhaka ;

7. Geography and Environment Museum , Dhaka University , Dhaka ;

8. Fish Museum , Dhaka University , Dhaka ;

9. Social Science Department Museum , Dhaka University , Dhaka ;

10. Soil Science Department Museum , Dhaka University , Dhaka ;

11. Botany Department Museum , Dhaka University , Dhaka ;

12. Commerce Faculty Museum , Dhaka University , Dhaka ;

13. Dhaka Medical College Anatomy Museum , Dhaka ; (1946)

14. Histopathological Museum, Dhaka Medical College , Dhaka ;

15. Sir Salimullah Medical College Anatomy Museum , Dhaka (1962)

16. Fulbithi Museum , Dhaka (1990)

17. Bangladesh Herbarium Ethno-botanical Museum, Dhaka (2000)

18. Bangladesh Neusmatic Society Sangrahashala, Dhaka (1991)

19. Bangladesh Air Force Museum , Dhaka (1987)

20. Bangladesh Geological Survey Museum , Dhaka (1969)

21. Bangladesh Asiatic Society Museum , Dhaka

22. BSCIC Design Centre Shangrahashala, Dhaka (1960)

23. Bangali Collection, Dhaka

24. Language Movement Museum , Dhaka (2007)

25. Children Museum , Dhaka (1991)

26. Sani Car Museum , Dhaka

27. Mini Museum (stamp), Dhaka (1973)

28. Music Museum , Dhaka

29. District Council Museum , Dhaka

30. Folk Heritage Sangrahshala, Bangla Academy , Dhaka (1978)

31. Jahanara Imam Memorial Museum , Dhaka (2007)

32. Police Museum (Temporarily closed), Dhaka (1995)

References:

1. Edson, Gray and David Dean, The Handbook for Museum, London , Routledge, 1994, p.54

2. Haque, Mahmudul, The Journal of Bangladesh National Museum , Bangladesh National Museum, Dhaka , 2005, p. 133

The following books and journals have also been consulted:

1. Gwein Robert P., The new Encyclopedia Britannica and others: USA Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., 1986

2. Timothy Ambrose and Crisper Paene, Museum Basics VAS, ICOM, Routledge, 1998.

3. News Letter, Iftikhar-ul-Awwal, Dhaka , Bangladesh National Museum , Vol. 4, Issue 2-3, 2002.

4. Lord Barry and Gail Dexter Lord, The Manual of Museum Management, London , The Stationery Office, 1998.

5. The Manual of Museum planning (ed. Gail Dexter Lord and Barry Lord), London , The Stationery Office, 1999.

6. Collections Management, (ed. Anne Fatty) London , Rout ledge 1999.

7. Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh , Report of the Martial Law Committee on Organization set up, Dhaka , phase III, Vol. XIV, Part II, Chapter-IX, 1983.

8. Mahmud, Firoz and Habibur Rahman, The Museums in Bangaldesh, Dhaka , Bangla Academy , 987.

9. Islam, Syed Amirul and others, Bangladesher Jadughar (Museums in Bangladesh ); Dhaka , Somoy Prakashan, 2000.

10. Haque, Mahmudul, Introducing Bangladesh National Museum : Dhaka , Bangladesh National Museum, 2005

11. Islam, Syed Amirul, Bangladesha Museum ; Dhaka , Jyotiprokash, 2006.

12. Kellah Lalbagh, Brochure, Department of Archaeology. Dhaka .

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* Keeper (c.c.), Department of Contemporary Art and World Civilization, Bangladesh National Museum , Shahbagh, Dhaka-1000

Acknowledgement: The writer expresses his gratitude to Prof. Sharif uddin Ahmed, Department of History, University of Dhaka and Dr. Md. Shafiqul Alam, Former Director General, Department of Archaeology, Dhaka for their comments on an earlier draft.

However, the responsibility for all the lapses contained and opinions expressed in this article is owned by the writer.