Dhaka University’s highest policy-making body, the Syndicate, has recommended renaming two of its prominent residential halls, following a formal appeal from student leaders. The proposal suggests that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall be renamed Shaheed Osman Hadi Hall, while Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall be rechristened Bir Protik Captain Sitara Begum Hall. The recommendations were submitted to the Vice-Chancellor in the form of memoranda by leaders of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU).
Confirming the decision, the University’s Proctor, Professor Saifuddin Ahmed, told Prothom Alo that the Syndicate approved the proposals during its meeting on Thursday in response to the DUCSU leaders’ demands.
The suggested hall name changes are part of a broader set of decisions made by the Syndicate in the same meeting, which also addressed disciplinary matters within the Department of Sociology. Specifically, the Syndicate issued a show-cause notice to four faculty members affiliated with the Awami League, inquiring why they should not face suspension. Additionally, two other faculty members received official warnings.
The four faculty members who have been asked to respond are:
| No. | Name | Designation | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professor Zinat Huda | Faculty | Sociology |
| 2 | Professor A.K.M. Jamal Uddin | Faculty | Sociology |
| 3 | Professor Sadeka Halim | Faculty | Sociology |
| 4 | Professor Md. Moshiur Rahman | Faculty | Sociology |
The two faculty members who received warnings are:
| No. | Name | Designation | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professor Mahmuda Khatun | Faculty | Sociology |
| 2 | Professor Md. Khairul Islam Chowdhury | Faculty | Sociology |
Explaining the rationale behind the notices, Proctor Professor Saifuddin Ahmed said the actions followed complaints lodged by students regarding the four professors. The Syndicate thus sought clarification on why these faculty members should not be formally disciplined, while simultaneously approving the proposals for the hall name changes.
The decisions signal the university administration’s commitment to addressing student concerns while also enforcing accountability among faculty members. If ratified, the new names will honour Shaheed Osman Hadi, a revered national figure, and Bir Protik Captain Sitara Begum, a distinguished freedom fighter, thereby embedding their legacies more visibly within the university’s residential and academic culture.