MAG Osmani Museum
Type: Museum
Contributed By: Nayeem
Brief
MAG Osmani Museum is a museum in Sylhet, Bangladesh. The ancestors’ home of Bangabir General Muhammad Ataul Gani Osmani, the Commander-in-Chief of Bangladesh Forces (12 April 1971 – 7 April 1972) has been transformed into today’s famous “Osmani Museum”. It is situated at the heart (Dhopa Dighir Par) of the Sylhet City Corporation area in renowned Sylhet Division of Bangladesh.
It is about 12 km from the Sylhet Osmani International Airport and 3 km from the Sylhet Railway Station. Maintained and organized by the Bangladesh National Museum, this museum has been established to pay rich tribute to the great hero of Bangladesh for his outstanding accomplishments. This will surely act as a stimulus to the future generations. The foundation stone was laid on 16 February 1985 and it was inaugurated on 4 March 1987 by the then president of Bangladesh H M Ershad.
‘Nur Manzil’ is by and large a tin shade building having few rooms and other amenities including an exquisite piazza in the front. One has to cross few meters from the main gate to reach the Museum. A huge portrait of the General, placed in the center of the entrance hall greets the visitors. Receptionist welcomes the guests. One has to write name and address in the register placed in the reception. A befitting sitting place is also available in the lobby.
This historic museum comprises three galleries, where personal belongings of General Osmani and a good number of historical photographs are preserved befittingly. On both western and eastern side of the building there exist two small rooms, where Assistant Keeper and Care Taker’s office are situated.
How to go
It is located on Dhopa Dighir Par of Sylhet main town. Taxis are available from the airport. The important places needs to be crossed before reaching the Osmani Museum are: Sylhet Cadet College premises, Malnichara tea garden, Majumdari, Ambarkhana, Chowhatta, Kumarpara, Suphanighat and then to Nur Manzil, Dhupa dighir Par. From the railway and bus station cross Shahjalal Bridge, Supahani Ghat and step into the Nur Manzil. You can go there by rickshaw or even CNG auto rickshaw and head towards Naiorpool road.
How To Reach: Sylhet District
Three type of transportation mode is available towards Sylhet from Dhaka. You can get in there by bus, train or air.
1. Greenline Paribahan
9/2, Outer Circular Road, Rajarbag, Dhaka-1217. (BDT 850 Volvo, BDT 1100 Scania)
2. Shyamoli Paribahan
Arambagh Counter, Dhaka. Phone-7102291, 0193626023
Sayedabad Counter, Dhaka. Phone-0171-8075541, 7511019, 7550071
3. Hanif Paribahan, Dhaka offices
Panthapath: 0173-402670
Arambagh: 01713-402671
Sayedabad: 01713-402673
4. S Al Saudia
Address: Humayun Rashid Chattar, Sylhet
Mobile: 01712920909
5. Shohah Paribahan
Address: Shobhani Ghat, Sylhet
Phone: 0821-722299
Fare: Taka 1100
You will find the above bus operators from Malibag Rail-gate, Razarbag or Sayedabad bus stand. These services are available from 6:30 am to 11:30 pm.
Bangladesh Biman, NovoAir, United Airways and Regent Airways are the four operators who fly from Dhaka to sylhet. The ticket price starts from 3000 taka & it goes up to 8000 taka per pax. There are more than 10 flights every day from morning to evening.
The planes leaving Dhaka for Sylhet are
1. United Airlines
Departure from Dhaka-5:35PM on Friday: 2:20PM
Departure from Sylhet-6:45PM on Friday-3:30PM
(Schedule varies time to time)
Fair-One way BDT 3825- 6325
2. Regent Airways.
Departure from Dhaka-4:40PM
Departure from Sylhet-5:45PM
(Schedule varies time to time)
Fair-One fair ranges from BDT 4800-5700
3. Bangladesh Biman. Price of tickets ranges from BDT 3500-9940 (Single flight per day)
There are four train services from Dhaka to sylhet. They are Joyontika, Parabat and Upoban depart at morning, noon and evening. There is a new train named Kalini depart at afternoon from Dhaka. It takes 7-8 hours to reach sylhet.The ticket price is around 295 for shovon-chair & it gets 679 taka for 1st class AC.
Train Schedules:
1. Kalini Express– departure time from Dhaka-4:00PM, arrival time at Sylhet-10:30PM.Off day: Friday
2. Parabat Express– departure time from Dhaka-6:40AM, arrival time at Sylhet-1:35PM
Departure time from Sylhet-3:00PM, arrival time at Dhaka-10:30PM. Off day: Tuesday
3. Upaban Express– departure time from Dhaka-9:50PM, arrival time at Sylhet-5:30AM
Departure time from Sylhet-10:00PM, arrival time at Dhaka-5:30AM.
Off day: Wednesday in Dhaka, no off days in Sylhet
4. Joyntika Express– departure time from Dhaka-12:00PM, arrival time at Sylhet-7:50PM
Departure time from Sylhet-08:20AM, arrival time at Dhaka-4:00PM.
Off day: None
Fair of all these ranges according to compartments usually BDT 75-1018.
Where to Stay
There are a number of good quality hotels in Sylhet town. Most of those are at the Mazar road, Amberkhana, or in Zindabazar. A brief list of hotels is given below:
1. Hotel Eastern Gate & Panahar Restaurant.
2. Hotel Gulshan.
3. Hotel Dargah View.
4. Greenland Hotel & Restaurant.
5. Hotel City Link International.
6. Surma Valley Rest House.
7. Hotel Baharain Residential
8. Hotel Qureishi Residence.
9. Hotel Ajmeer.
10. Hotel Payra.
11. Hotel Supreme,
12. Hotel Palash,
13. Hotel Western,
14. Hotel Anurag,
15. Hotel Al-Amin,
16. Hotel Garden’s Inn,
17. Hotel Ferdous,
18. Hotel Panama,
19. Hotel Green,
20. Hotel Hilltown,
21. Hotel Rose View,
22. Hotel Star Pacific,
23. Hotel Tajmohal.
Things to do
It contains 3 galleries which processes the belongings of Gen Osmani.
1. The first gallery contains showpieces like that of a bedroom.
2. The second gallery is fixed up as a drawing room with furniture made of cane.
3. The third one consists of reading table, chair and bed stand.
Eating Facilities
There are no eating facilities inside the museum so you have to go to a nearby restaurant.
Travel Tips
Osmani Museum remains open every day except Thursday. From Sunday to Wednesday the timings is from 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM. On Friday and Saturday it remains open from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM. There are no entry fees for the visitors.
The museum authority celebrates the birth (1 September) and death (16 February) anniversaries of General M A G Osmani along with the independent (26 March) and victory day (16 December) at the museum premises. Total 11 hard working individuals are taking proper care of this precious establishment.
