Demand for renaming Begum Rokeya University continues
The authorities of Khulna University have recently changed names of its 16 halls and other buildings by dropping names of some martyred intellectuals and some historically eminent figures following demands of a section of students.
The KU decision came amid a demand of a section of students of another public university, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur for changing the university鈥檚 name to Rangpur University.
Meanwhile, the law, justice and parliamentary affairs ministry on Wednesday issued an ordinance by changing names of 13 public universities.
All of these universities were named after the country鈥檚 founding president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and his family members.
Some locals on August 8, 2024 also hung a banner of Jatir Pita Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) Expressway over the聽 banner of Jatir Pita Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Highway after deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5 amid a student-people mass uprising.
According to a Khulna University order signed by registrar SM Mahbubur Rahman, following a decision made at the 230th meeting of the syndicate held on February 8, the names of the university鈥檚 different halls and buildings were changed.
The name of Jatir Janak Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall was replaced with Bir Shreshtha Mohammad Ruhul Amin Hall, that of Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnessa Mujib Hall with Bijoy鈥�24 Hall and that of Sultana Kamal Gymnasium with Khulna University Gymnasium.
The names of Dr Satyendra Nath Bose Academic Bhaban, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Academic Bhaban, Kabi Jibanananda Das Academic Bhaban and Joy Bangla Bhanban were replaced with Academic Bhaban 01, 02, 03 and 04 respectively.
Martyred Intellectual Dr Alim Chowdhury Medical Centre was renamed as Khulna University Medical Centre, Martyred Intellectual Dr Jyotirmoy Guhathakurta Residential Bhaban as Professor鈥檚 Quarter, Martyred Intellectual Dr Sukharanjan Samaddar Residential Bhaban as Associate Professor鈥檚 Quarter, Martyred Intellectual Dr Govinda Chandra Dev Residential Bhaban as Assistant Professor鈥檚 Quarter and Martyred Intellectual SMA Rashidul Hasan Residential Bhaban as Lecturer鈥檚 Quarter.
Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Administrative Bhaban鈥檚 name was replaced with Administrative Bhaban, Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam Bhaban with Professor Dr Golam Rahman Administrative Bhaban, Lalon Sai Auditorium with TSC Bhaban and Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy Central Library with Khulna University Central Library.
Rabindranath Thakur IER Bhaban鈥檚 name was replaced with Rabindranath Thakur Shikkha Bhaban.
The names of Michael Madhusudan Dutt Guest Bhaban and Kazi Nazrul Islam Central Library remained unchanged.
Khulna University vice-chancellor Md Rezaul Karim told 抖阴精品 on Thursday that they had changed the names following demands of students.
He also said that the names, which were changed, had also been renamed during the ousted Awami League government tenure.
About the dropping of the names of Dr Satyendra Nath Bose and Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose, the vice-chancellor said that these names were difficult to pronounce.
Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur vice-chancellor Md Showkat Ali told 抖阴精品 on Thursday that some students had been demanding for changing the name of the university for a month.
He said that the university was established in 2008 as Rangpur University which was renamed in 2009.
Even after meeting education adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud, the students at a press briefing on February 6 threatened with a complete lockdown of the university if their demand would not be met within seven days, Showkat added.
As per the law ministry鈥檚 ordinance, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj is renamed as Gopalganj Science and Technology University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University, Bangladesh as Bangladesh Maritime University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Digital University, Bangladesh as Gazipur Digital University, Bangamata Sheikh Fojilatunnesa Mujib Science and Technology University as Jamalpur Science and Technology University, Sheikh Hasina University as Netrokona University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University as Aviation and Aerospace University, Bangladesh,聽 Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman University, Kishoreganj as Kishoreganj University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Pirojpur as Pirojpur Science and Technology University, Mujibnagar University, Meherpur as Meherpur University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman University, Naogaon as Naogaon University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shariatpur Agricultural University as Shariatpur Agricultural University and Jatir Pita Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Narayanganj as Narayanganj Science and Technology University.
Road transport and bridges ministry adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan said that after discussion with the religious affairs adviser AFM Khalid Hossain, a decision was made to remove the banner with the name of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) from the expressway.
鈥楤ut the district administration does not want to remove the banner, fearing a backlash,鈥� he said.
Earlier a meeting of the council of advisers decided that no institutions would be named after Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members, he said adding that following that decision, the highway would be renamed.
