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Published on April 27, 2014
The Ministry of Defence, which was the office of the then head of the government, is just beside Gonobhaban, the official residence of the Prime Minister.
The table used for today's meeting was also used for cabinet meetings during Bangabandhu's tenure after January 12, 1972.
At the outset of the meeting, Defence Secretary Kazi Habibul Awal informed the premier that the table and chairs being used for today's meeting were also used by Bangabandhu.
He mentioned that Bangabandhu after independence had his office in the present defence ministry building as the Prime Minister and the President and held cabinet meetings there. Bangabandhu's eldest daughter Sheikh Hasina as the Prime Minister today delivered her speech in the conference room of the defence ministry where cabinet meetings were held during the period of Bangabandhu government.
During his stint, Bangabandhu used this office to run his government -- and the table he used for cabinet meetings remains in the defence ministry.
It was used as the office of the head of the government even after the introduction of the presidential system. The office was preserved after the Awami League government took office in 1996.
Sheikh Hasina also visited the room used by Bangabandhu during his tenure.
On his return from Pakistan jail after the country's War of Liberation, Bangabandhu started using the office from January 12, 1972.
He continued using this office till transformation of the form of the government from presidential to parliamentary.
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