Ducsu leader calls for new name for Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall

A Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) leader has called on the university not to retain Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s name for one of its residential halls.

Musaddiq Ali Ibne Mohammad, Ducsu literature and culture secretary, made the demand at a press briefing on the hall premises around 9:30pm, hours after the words “Shaheed Osman Hadi Hall”, put up by students at the entrance of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall, were removed.

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He called on the university to name the hall after another prominent figure instead.

Speaking at the briefing, he said Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had played a significant role in Bangladesh's history, but alleged that his government was responsible for the deaths of thousands of Jasod activists and that his policies contributed to the 1974 famine.

“After the July Uprising, the names of many establishments named after members of the Sheikh family were changed. But we do not understand why the university administration has chosen to stand guard over Mujibism,” he said.

The claims regarding the number of Jasod activists killed were not independently verified.

The removal of the name from the hall entrance happened earlier on Wednesday. The university administration said it had not issued any instruction to remove it.

Hall Provost Md Akhteruzzaman told The Daily Star that the name was removed during a cleaning work at the main entrance.

“I could not go to the hall today [Wednesday] as I was unwell. I will be able to provide details about the matter after visiting the hall tomorrow [Thursday],” he said.

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Photo: Star

Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Dr. Mohammed Almujaddade Alfasane also said no such decision had been taken by the university's central administration.

At the press briefing, Musaddiq said Ducsu did not want to impose any particular name on the hall.

He claimed that teachers affiliated with the BNP-backed Sada Dal had earlier agreed to changing the hall's name, and questioned whether they had now reached a “secret understanding” with pro-Awami League teachers.

“We are not asking you to accept a particular name. Consult the students and find out what they want. Name the hall accordingly,” he said.

He also said the hall could be named after Bir Sreshtho, noting that DU has no establishment named after any of the country's seven Bir Sreshthos, or after National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.

“We do not want Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's name to be established at this university,” he said.

Ahmed Al Sabah, general secretary of the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall unit of Ducsu, said students had demanded that no “icon of fascism” remain at the university after the death of Osman Hadi.

He said students had also demanded renaming both Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall and Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall, but alleged that the university administration had ignored their demand.

Ahmed said students had faced security concerns because of the hall's name.

“We went to the National Martyrs' Memorial on Victory Day carrying a banner bearing the name Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall. Police took away the banner, mistaking us for Awami League supporters,” he said.