Pabna Government Edward College has renamed the “Suchitra Sen Dormitory” to “July–36 Dormitory.”
The changes were officially announced on Tuesday by the college principal Abdul Awal Mia, in the presence of faculty and staff. The “Sheikh Russel Dormitory” was renamed “Bijoy–24,” and “Begum Fazilatunnesa Dormitory” is now “Ayesha Siddika (RA) Dormitory.”
Suchitra Sen, a legendary Bengali film actress, was born in Pabna. Her fans have strongly protested the name change, expressing anger on social media. Cultural activists and local organizations condemned the decision, calling it disrespectful to a non-political cultural icon.
Naresh Madhu, general secretary of the Suchitra Sen Memorial Committee, said, “She was not involved in politics. Erasing her name is unacceptable. We demand the restoration of the original name.”
In response, the principal said the renaming was done with approval from the academic council, following student demands after the July uprising. He urged students to embrace honesty, patriotism, and skill-building inspired by the event.
Suchitra Sen’s ancestral home is located in Pabna’s Hemsagar Lane. She lived there until her marriage in 1947. The house was later occupied and only recovered in 2014. It now serves as a memorial museum under the Pabna district administration.