There will be a change in the naming of universities named after the Hasina family
September 29, 20243 Mins Read

Jumbangla Desk: Currently there are 55 public universities in the country. Among them, 13 universities have been established in the names of Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and some of the families. There are two universities and three government medical colleges in the name of Sheikh Hasina alone.

And there are 9 universities and two medical colleges named after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib. There is also a public university named after Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatun Necha Mujib. The medical college is named after Sheikh Hasina's grandmother Sheikh Saira Khatun. Most of these medical universities were established after he came to power in 2008. In many cases multiple universities have been established under the same name. The teachers and students of these educational institutions are also in trouble. Because of the same name it becomes difficult to differentiate the institutions.

However, the current government has taken the initiative to stop the naming . Names of universities and medical colleges will be changed after the policy is made. This information is known from related sources. The details from Bangladesh Daily's report are as follows-

There are also complaints that the universities established during the Awami League-led government were named after individuals, ignoring public demand. In some cases, after coming to power, Sheikh Hasina's government dropped the previous name and renamed the institution after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib. As a result, the anger of the local residents has also increased. The concerned have demanded to change the names of these universities and medical colleges.

According to sources, Faridpur Government Medical College was established in 1992. In April 2021, the Sheikh Hasina government issued a notification to change its name to 'Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College, Faridpur'. After the change of power, the locals removed the words 'Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib' from the name of this medical college.

According to information, the government is making policies to stop random naming of public institutions or establishments at state expense. A four-member committee is already working. If this policy is finalized, the names of the universities named after Sheikh Hasina and her family members will be canceled through notification. Will be renamed later.

Public universities named after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family members, who left power in the face of student-people agitation, include Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in the capital (1998), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University in Dhaka (2013), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University in Gazipur (2013). Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (1998), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Digital University (2016), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University at Gopalganj (2010).

Apart from these, there are Sheikh Hasina University at Netrakona (2018), Bangmata Sheikh Fazilatun Nescha Mujib University of Science and Technology at Jamalpur (2018), Bangmata Sheikh Fazilatun Nescha Mujib Medical University at Sylhet (2018), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University at Lalmonirhat (2019). ), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman University in Kishoreganj (2021), Sheikh Hasina Medical University in Khulna (2021), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman University of Science and Technology in Pirojpur (2022) and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman University in Naogaon (2023).

Education advisor Wahiduddin Mahmud said in this context, these universities have been named through ordinances or laws. A committee is working on what kind of changes can be made in the naming of the universities by the government. A uniform policy will be developed on the changes. The name of all institutions can be changed by notification if there is a policy.

Regarding the naming of so many universities and medical colleges after individuals, the Chairman of the University Grants Commission Professor SMA Faiz said that if the Ministry of Education asks for an opinion on changing the names of the universities, the decision will be taken in the meeting of the commission.