Osman Hadi’s name being removed from Sheikh Mujib Hall nameplate
The words “Shaheed Osman Hadi Hall” are being removed from the nameplate of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall at Dhaka University. Photo: Agamir Somoy
About a year ago, a group of students wrote “Shaheed Osman Hadi Hall” on the nameplate of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall at Dhaka University. However, as no final decision has been made to change the name, the hall administration is removing the writing.
On Wednesday afternoon, September 30, workers were seen removing the writing from the hall’s nameplate and restoring the name “Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall.” No statement was available from the hall’s Provost Professor Akhtaruzzaman regarding the matter. However, hall officials said the work was being carried out at the initiative of the administration.
One year after the Awami League was ousted from power in the July uprising, Dhaka University authorities changed the name “Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall” to “Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall” on September 3, 2025, removing the words “Father of the Nation” and “Bangabandhu.” A notice issued by the university’s Public Relations Department at the time said the decision had been taken by the university syndicate.
Four months later, in December 2025, after Inquilab Mancha Convener Sharif Osman bin Hadi was killed, Dhaka University students demanded that the hall be named after him. The day after Osman Hadi died on December 18, leaders of the hall union hung a banner reading “Shaheed Osman Hadi Hall.”
The following day, a group of students removed Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s name from the hall’s nameplate. At the same time, two graffiti works featuring Sheikh Mujib inside the hall were also removed. Later, “Shaheed Osman Hadi Hall” was written on the hall’s nameplate.
At the time, hall union and Ducsu leaders claimed the initiative reflected the students’ demand.
Over several months, the issue was discussed in various administrative forums of the university amid student protests demanding a change to the hall’s name, an initiative by the hall union and a demand from Ducsu.
The issue of changing the name of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall was discussed at the Dhaka University Senate session on June 29 this year. Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. A B M Obaidul Islam said that although the proposal had been sent to the Senate by the syndicate, no final decision had been made on changing the name.
As no decision was made on the name change, Ducsu Vice President Shadik Kayem, General Secretary S M Farhad and several other representatives walked out of the session. These leaders of Islami Chhatra Shibir also demanded that the names of establishments named after Sheikh Mujib and his family be changed.
Ducsu General Secretary S M Farhad said at the time that their main demand was to change the current name of the hall. They did not consider which person’s name would be given to it as the only issue.
However, as the matter was not finally resolved at the university Senate, the name “Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall” remained officially in place.
