In response to the public uprising, the names of 13 public universities in Bangladesh associated with former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family have been changed through a newly issued gazette.
On Thursday (February 13), the ordinance was published for public knowledge by order of the President.
Earlier on Wednesday (February 12), the Ministry of Law issued the ordinance, and it was signed by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division under the President's authority.
According to the ordinance, the use of similar names for multiple public universities had caused confusion. Therefore, it was deemed necessary to amend university-related laws to establish clear identification and locations for these institutions. The ordinance also highlighted that, as the parliament is dissolved, the President had the authority to take immediate action, as per Article 93(1) of the Constitution of Bangladesh.
List of Universities Whose Names Have Been Changed:
- Sheikh Hasina University in Netrokona will be renamed 'Netrokona University.'
- Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman University in Kishoreganj will now be 'Kishoreganj University.'
- Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman University in Naogaon will be renamed 'Naogaon University.'
- Mujibnagar University in Meherpur will now be 'Meherpur University.'
- Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University in Gazipur will become 'Gazipur Agricultural University.'
- Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Shariatpur Agricultural University will now be 'Shariatpur Agricultural University.'
- Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Digital University will be renamed 'Bangladesh Digital University.'
- Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Science and Technology University in Jamalpur will be renamed 'Jamalpur Science and Technology University.'
- Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University in Pirojpur will become 'Pirojpur Science and Technology University.'
- Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University in Narayanganj will be renamed 'Narayanganj Science and Technology University.'
- Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University in Chittagong will now be 'Maritime University Bangladesh.'
- Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University will be renamed 'Aviation and Aerospace University Bangladesh.'
On January 16, Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, an advisor to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives and Youth and Sports, announced the decision to change the names of 13 universities related to the Sheikh family through a Facebook post. However, the legal process took nearly a month to finalize, and the gazette was only issued recently.
You can view the full gazette here.
