DU removes Osman Hadi’s name from Mujib Hall gate

The removal, however, exposed differing accounts within the university administration over the decision to restore the hall’s previous name.

Dhaka University Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Prof Dr Mohammed Almujaddade Alfasane said the hall provost informed him that the decision to restore the previous name was taken after discussions with students.

According to him, the process of restoring the name “Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall” is being carried out in line with a decision taken at an earlier Syndicate meeting.

However, hall Provost Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman gave a different account, saying he heard that the name was removed from the gate but was unaware of any decision regarding the matter.

He also said he had been unable to visit the hall due to illness.

“Cleaning activities are currently underway at the hall. The name may have been removed inadvertently during the cleaning process,” he said, adding that no decision was taken to rewrite or restore the previous name.

Meanwhile, the DU Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall Students’ Union held a press conference following the removal of the name.

At the press conference, DUCSU Literary Secretary Mosaddek Ali Ibn Mohammad and Mujib Hall Students’ Union General Secretary Ahmed Al Sabah said the demand to rename the hall is part of their long-standing movement.

They said the hall should be renamed based on the opinion of students, adding that they will not object if it is given any other acceptable name.

The student leaders claimed that students faced various social and practical difficulties because the hall’s name contains “Sheikh Mujib”. They said students sometimes faced misunderstandings about their political identity when identifying themselves as residents of the hall.

They also cited precedents for changing the names of halls and other establishments at educational institutions across the country, arguing that students’ opinions should be taken into consideration in deciding the future name of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall.

They said they will have no objection if the hall is named after any other acceptable individual.

Mosaddek called on the administration to take a prompt decision on renaming the hall. The student leaders said they will continue their movement through democratic means if the administration sought to retain the current name without taking students’ demands and opinions into consideration.

The name “Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi Hall” was placed over the existing nameplate of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall by students in December 2025 following Osman Hadi’s killing. The demand to formally rename the hall was later also raised by DUCSU, reports UNB.