A provocative renaming at Dhaka University signals Bangladesh’s rewriting of history: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall will now bear the name ‘Usman Hadi Hall,’ commemorating the radical Islamist leader assassinated amid capital unrest last month.
The syndicate, under Vice-Chancellor Niaz Ahmad Khan, endorsed the change Thursday, sending it to the senate. Proctor Saifuddin Ahmad affirmed progress to Dhaka Tribune, emphasizing procedural steps.
Likewise, the hall named for Mujib’s spouse becomes ‘Captain Sitara Parveen Hall.’ This aligns with assaults on 1971 war relics, stoking debates on cultural erasure in the Yunus-led interim government.
Post-Hadi’s death, proactive students at the hall affixed his plaque and vandalized Mujib imagery. Supporters rioted, striking at minorities, the Indian High Commission, arts venues, and media across Bangladesh.
Thursday’s meeting also launched disciplinary action against four pro-Awami League instructors, with charges filed and a week’s deadline for responses. Investigations loom, per Ahmad: ‘No sacking yet, but framed for it.’ Prior faculty attacks by student groups add to the pattern.
As insecurity plagues workplaces, political interference shadows education, and critics endure attacks, Bangladesh teeters. This hall renaming exemplifies how symbolic battles are reshaping the nation’s soul, potentially deepening societal rifts.