Dhaka University could not give the certificate of honor to Bangabandhu

Although the Dhaka University authorities corrected the ‘historical mistake’ of expelling Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, one of the most well-known students of the institution, on August 14, 2010, on August 14, 2010, the university could not formally honor this great leader on August 15, 1975 as planned.

The DU authorities also prepared a certificate to be awarded to Bangabandhu. A special program was organized for this purpose. But before that, it was no longer possible because most of the members of Bangabandhu’s family were martyred in the early hours of that day.

On behalf of the teachers, students and staff Bangabandhu, the then Vice Chancellor (VC) Professor Dr. Abdul Matin Chowdhury was supposed to present this certificate. The then chancellor of the university, Bangabandhu, was supposed to address and exchange views with the teachers, students and staff of the university at the Teacher-Student Center (TSC) of the DU campus.

On December 2, 2009, the historical certificate was accidentally found in a room of the university’s registrar’s building. The then deputy registrar of the university. Amir Hussain found the certificate while looking for some official documents in the room. Old papers and documents were stored in that room.

The then DU VC Professor Dr. AMS Arefin Siddique told Bass, Amir Hussain handed me the handwritten and wooden framed quote. It is now highly valued by the new generation.

When asked how he reacted when handing over the documents, Professor Dr. Arefin said, I was amazed by it. Prof. Matin Chowdhury prepared the handwritten certificate with the faculty of Fine Arts. But it was no longer awarded to Sheikh Mujib, the then chancellor of the university and the university’s best-known student.

Six decades after Sheikh Mujib was expelled from the university for his role in the fourth-class employees’ movement in the university, in 2010, during the 35th martyrdom anniversary of Bangabandhu, the university authorities revoked the expulsion order calling him ‘undemocratic and unjust’.

On March 26, 1949, the then university authorities expelled him. Certain conditions were imposed for the withdrawal of the expulsion order. But Bangabandhu, then a second year student of DU Law Department, did not accept that condition. Because he was an undisputed leader and always protested any injustice with a strong voice.

Professor Arefin said, by withdrawing the expulsion, Dhaka University has corrected a historical wrong decision of the institution 61 years ago.

Bangabandhu was also supposed to be given two silver crests and a casket with the monogram of the University. A few days after receiving the certificates, they were found in a safe of the university registrar.

The university authorities handed them over to Bangabandhu’s eldest daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2013 as a memorial. These are now on display at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at 32 Dhanmondi – a testament to Bangabandhu’s life and work. Bangabandhu was assassinated in this house in 1975.

Professor Arefin also said that a special chair was brought for Bangabandhu on the occasion of the event. Until 2016, nobody knew about that chair. In 2016, the former director of DU Teacher-Student Center Dr. Mahiuzzaman Chowdhury found it in a storeroom at the center.