Ducsu VP calls for VC office siege tomorrow over hall renaming demand

Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) Vice President Abu Shadik Kayem today announced a programme to lay siege to the university's Vice-Chancellor's Office at 2:30pm tomorrow, demanding the renaming of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall and Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall.

In a message sent to the media, Ducsu said the programme is part of its call to "free Dhaka University from fascism".

"Jatir Janak Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall be renamed 'Shaheed Osman Hadi Hall', while Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Hall be renamed Felani Hall," the message read.

The message also said Ducsu would demand administrative action against university personnel alleged to have supported the "July mass killing".

Reacting to the announcement, Tasnim Akter Alif Nabila, vice president of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Mujib Hall expressed objections in a Facebook post, saying Ducsu made the announcement without consulting students of the hall.

"I am the vice president of Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall. The decisions regarding my hall, including the naming issue, should prioritise the collective decision, wishes and aspirations of the female students," she wrote.

She further said, "Ducsu made this post without speaking to anyone from my hall. Does anyone have an answer for this?"

She added that a majority of the students of the hall want it to be named after Captain Sitara Begum, or after women who played pioneering roles in Bangladesh's struggle for independence and who symbolise the resistance and struggles of Bengali women.