Displays at the former Secretariat (former Ministers’ Office) for 73rd Martyrs’ Day

17 July


BOGYOKE Aung San and other national leaders were assassinated at 10:37 am on Saturday of 19 July 1947 at the former Secretariat (former Ministers’ Office) while holding a meeting. In addition to Bogyoke Aung San, Thakhin Mya, Deedoke U Ba Cho, U Ba Win, Mongpawn Sawbwa (Chieftain) Sao San Tun, Mahn Ba Khaing, U Razak, U Ohn Maung and Yebaw Ko Htwe were murdered and that day was officially recognized as Martyrs’ Day. 


All the Myanmar people suffered the most grievous loss for it. The former Secretariat was open to public on Martyrs’ Day from 19 to 21 July since 2015 but during this COVID-19 crisis, the parliament building and cabinet meeting room where the Martyrs were assassinated will not be opened.


The former Secretariat was renovated by the Anawmar Art Group and it looks now glorious. The Union Jack flag was replaced with Myanmar national flag just inside the entrance of the former Secretariat on 4 January 1948 when the country gained independence. The memorial monument of the Martyrs can also be seen there. The names of Martyrs and the time of death were inscribed on the monument. 


At the parliament building, Union Jack flag and Peacock, five-star flag, Burmese Declaration of Independence, historic documents, Treaty of Yantapo, Kinwun Mingyi and documents, Panglong Agreement, historic badges and documents, brief report of India joint committee regarding with administration affairs of Myanmar and Nu- Attlee Agreement are displayed.


The historic hall of former parliament building can be seen and it has the insignias of former parliament, sculptures and biographies of Martyrs. Next to that room, the newspaper records of former Ministers’ Office, portraits of the first President of Myanmar Sao Shwe Thaik, the second President Dr Ba U, the third President Mahn Win Maung, and the first Prime Minister of Myanmar U Nu are displayed. 


Ko Ko Zaw (Translated by Khine Thazin Han)