The inscription bearing the proposed name “Shaheed Osman Hadi Hall” has been removed from the entrance of Dhaka University’s Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall. The move, however, highlighted differing accounts within the university administration over the decision to restore the hall’s previous name.
The name had been painted on the hall gate following student demands to rename the hall after Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inquilab Mancha.
However, the proposal was not approved at the university’s latest Senate meeting. The inscription was erased from the gate around 2pm on Wednesday.
Al Sabah, general secretary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall, told TIMES that neither Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal nor Islami Chhatra Shibir had decided to remove the inscription.
He said the hall had long been without an official nameplate and that the hall administration had applied to the university authorities for a steel nameplate. A budget for the installation had already been approved, and the painted inscription was removed as part of that process.
Al Sabah alleged that some individuals who had opposed Osman Hadi’s burial on the Dhaka University campus were now influential within the administration and did not want the hall renamed after him.
“We tried to pursue the matter, but the proposal was withdrawn from the Senate agenda and sent back to the Syndicate for reconsideration. The issue remains unresolved, and the demand has not been rejected,” he said.
He added that signatures had been collected from hall residents and that a majority had expressed support for renaming the hall.
Meanwhile, Pro-Vice Chancellor Mohammed Almujaddade Alfasane told TIMES that the hall administration took the decision after consulting students.
“As the hall’s name has not officially been changed, the inscription could not remain. This is the information provided by the hall provost,” he said.
He further said, “The proposal to change the hall’s name was not approved at the latest Senate meeting. Therefore, under the rules, the previous name will remain in effect.”
Asked whether the inscription would now bear the name Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall, Alfasane said, “The hall administration will now proceed based on the decision it has taken in consultation with the students. We are observing how they implement that decision.”
Speaking to TIMES, Proctor Israfil Ratan said, “The name of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall in the official records has not been changed. However, the intensity of the students’ aspirations is not being ignored.”
When asked whether the new nameplate would carry the name Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall, he said, “I have spoken with the vice-chancellor. The administration has not taken any such decision.”
In response, the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) raised several demands and questions at a press briefing on Wednesday night.
Ducsu leaders claimed that students were being subjected to harassment and intimidation due to the hall’s association with the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League. For security reasons, they said, the hall should be renamed in line with the wishes of the majority of students, as reflected in a mass signature campaign.
They said the university administration had recommended renaming Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall as “Shaheed Osman Hadi Hall”, but the matter remained pending between the Senate and the Syndicate, prompting student representatives to walk out of the Senate meeting. Ducsu leaders questioned why the authorities had retreated from their earlier commitment to rename the hall in line with student demands.
At the press briefing, Ducsu also alleged that there were plans to spend a significant amount of money installing an expensive steel nameplate bearing the name of what they described as an icon of fascism.
A rumour emerged that a large budget has been allocated for this purpose, the body said, adding that students had also questioned whether the funds had come from the Awami League.
The student body further alleged that, despite the BNP government having been in power for six months, efforts to reinstall a costly nameplate associated with what they called a fascist icon, reflected a possible understanding and vested interests between the Awami League, the BNP government and a BNP-aligned university administration.
A student of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall, Fahad Hossain, said, “I do not want my hall to be named after a symbol of fascism. Put the blame on Sheikh Hasina and Mujib’s BAKSAL, on the famine, or whatever else, but not on others. Name the hall after MAG Osmani, Kazi Nazrul, any Bir Sreshtha, Nur of the 1990 movement, Abu Sayeed of 2024, or anyone else. If necessary, name it after Khaleda Zia. I have no objection. But no more Sheikh Mujib.”
Several student representatives staged walk out during the university’s annual Senate meeting on 29 June after Vice-Chancellor ABM Obaidul Islam announced that the proposal would be sent back to the Syndicate for reconsideration.
The five representatives who staged the walkout were Ducsu Vice-President Sadik Kayem, General Secretary SM Farhad, Assistant General Secretary Muhammad Mohiuddin, Transport Secretary Asif Abdullah and member Sabikunnahar Tamanna.
Earlier, leaders of the hall union had demanded that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall be renamed “Shaheed Osman Hadi Hall”. Around 2:30am on 19 December last year, they hung a banner reading “Shaheed Osman Hadi Hall” at the entrance to the hall.
