(MENAFN- Bangladesh Monitor) Dhaka : All over the world, museums are an integral part of tourist's attraction. Madame Tussauds has proved that museums are not only to provide historical information but also entertainment via wax sculptures. Visitors love to see lifelike statues of their favourite celebrities and public figures of all ages. The photos they take alongside the statues look like real moments visitors spent with their idols.
Now, it is a matter of great honour that Bangladesh also has a state of the art celebrity museum of its own. Mrinal Haque, the famous sculpturist of our country has opened his own celebrity museum under the title of Mrinal Haque's Celebrity Gallery.
It is something the country has been missing for so long. Visitors from both home and abroad are now able to have the same experience in the country's capital without having to go abroad and spend several dollars at wax museums.
"For sight-seeing or recreational purpose, people can come here to enjoy art and take photos with celebrities (statues). This is a new recreational option for people just like a cinema hall, theatre, zoo, museum etc," said Mrinal Haque while talking to The Bangladesh Monitor.
Even though such museums are called wax museums, technically wax statues are only available in London's Madame Tussauds. The rest all over the world are made of silicon or fibre glass, just like this one, Mrinal explained.
The current line-up includes Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump, Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Mother Teresa, Che Guevara, Michael Jackson, Kshudiram Basu, Charlie Chaplin, Lionel Messi, Rowan Atkinson as Mr Bean, Shahrukh Khan, The Three Stooges (Larry, Mo, and Curly), Princess Diana, Suchitra Sen, Shakira, Yoda, Bob Marley, Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, the Na'vi from James Cameron's Avatar, Spider Man and several others.
However, what makes Mrinal's Celebrity Gallery different than others is that there are additional features of each statue providing a more immersive experience to the visitors. For instance, when a visitor stands in front of Kazi Nazrul Islam, a song of the national poet starts playing. Same happens for Michael Jackson's statue and others.
"The government should have been the one taking such an initiative. They are doing many things in other sectors, spending a lot. But they are yet to realise the importance of having a celebrity museum. All the developed countries have it. So, I took the initiative myself," said Mrinal.
In London, they have spent BDT 1 crore behind each statue. Comparatively, here, Mrinal was only able to spend that amount for all the 32 statues together since he had to everything by himself.
The sculpturist inaugurated the gallery with 32 statues. He intends to add 40 more, opening another floor. "I am looking for sponsors. If I manage to get any, I would be able to develop it more."
The gallery opened on December 8, 2018 at House 5/A, at the corner of Road#2 and Road#5. It remains open every day for visitors from 12-8 pm for an entry fee of BDT500.
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