University name changes erase Sheikh Hasina family ties

Bangladesh’s interim government, formed after the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in mass protests last August, is to change the names of 13 public universities named after Hasina and her family members, with most affected institutions to be named after the districts in which they are located.

The interim government’s Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain confirmed the decision through his verified Facebook page on 16 January, after a meeting the same day of the Advisory Council, roughly equivalent to a cabinet, under Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.

Foyez Ahammad, senior assistant press secretary in the chief adviser’s office, told University World News the Advisory Council recommended changing the names of public universities, as institutions funded by public money should reflect the names of their respective districts rather than being named after one family.

Of the dozen or so universities to be renamed, 10 were named after Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, father of Sheikh Hasina and the country’s founding father, as cited in the country’s constitution, having led the 1971 war against Pakistan, which produced Bangladesh’s independence.

One was named after Hasina herself, while another was named after Hasina’s mother Fazilatunnssa Mujib.

Mujibnagar University in Meherpur, Khulna, is also to be renamed. The town of Baidyanathtala, renamed Mujibnagar after Mujibur Rahman, was the place where the first provisional government of Bangladesh was sworn in during the 1971 liberation war.

Mixed reaction

Students largely welcomed the move. Rifat Newaj, a student at the newly renamed Gazipur Agricultural University, said changing university names was important to minimise confusion. “There are so many universities named after Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Why should there be 10 universities named after one man?” he asked.

Jaurul Islam, a student at the renamed Gopalganj Science and Technology University, told University World News most students were happy with the changes, though some graduates were concerned they may encounter problems if they go abroad for higher studies and their certificates do not match current names.

Members of the recently banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), a student wing of Hasina’s party, the Awami League, criticised the decision.

A BCL vice-president called it a “planned move” by the interim government to “demean” Bangabandhu, the honorific by which Rahman is popularly known.

He told University World News: “This government has earlier dropped the national days related to Bangabandhu, changed names of medical colleges, and removed references to Bangabandhu from free textbooks. Now they are changing the names of universities. But one thing is clear: the students of the country will not accept the new names.”

Recent changes

In October 2024, the interim government took a decision to cancel eight national days, including one commemorating the historic 7 March speech by Rahman in 1971 informally declaring Bangladesh’s independence and the national mourning day observed to mark the day Rahman was assassinated in 1975.

New textbooks for primary and secondary have dropped some content on Rahman, his family and photographs of Hasina. New textbooks for primary and secondary students state that Ziaur Rahman, a former Bangladesh president and founder of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party that opposed the Awami League, declared the independence of Bangladesh in 1971. Earlier, the books said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made the declaration.

In November 2024, six government-run medical colleges named after Hasina, her father, and other Awami League leaders were renamed after their respective districts.

Colonel Malek Medical College in Manikganj became Manikganj Medical College, Abdul Malek Ukil Medical College in Noakhali was renamed Noakhali Medical College, Sheikh Hasina Medical College in Jamalpur is now Jamalpur Medical College, Sheikh Hasina Medical College in Tangail is Tangail Medical College, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College in Faridpur became Faridpur Medical College, and M Abdur Rahim Medical College in Dinajpur became Dinajpur Medical College.

All the dozen or so universities being renamed were founded during Hasina’s Awami League governments between 1996 and 2001 and then between 2009 and 2024.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman University in Kishoreganj and Naogaon become Kishoreganj University and Naogaon University respectively. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University in Gazipur and Shariatpur become Gazipur Agricultural University and Shariatpur Agricultural University respectively.

Sheikh Hasina University in Netrakona is now Netrakona University, while Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Science and Technology University will be Jamalpur University of Science and Technology.

Similarly, Bangladesh Digital University is the new name for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Digital University in Gazipur; Pirojpur Science and Technology University will be the new name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Pirojpur; Narayanganj Science and Technology University is the former Jatir Pita Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Narayanganj; and Gopalganj Science and Technology University will be the new name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University in Chattogram becomes Maritime University Bangladesh, and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University in Gazipur will be called Aviation and Aerospace University Bangladesh.