The senate of the NU at a meeting on Thursday decided to rename the institution. NU Vice-Chancellor Professor Aftab Ahmad made the proposal at the 10th session of the senate meeting that had barely filled the quorum.

Prof Serajul Islam Choudhury termed the NU's decision unjust, unfortunate and despairing. He, referring to Ziaur Rahman, a former president and founder of BNP, said it will rather make him controversial.

"We have witnessed the practice during the rule of Awami League and now under this government. It seems a disease to me," said Prof Choudhury.

He said the practice of renaming the old institutions without establishing new ones is bad. "National University itself was something of a misnomer as it does not impart education, rather function like a board of higher educational institutions," he said adding that he criticised the naming of the NU during its very inception.

Former Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof Emajuddin Ahmed said, "I don't think renaming the National University after late president Ziaur Rahman would increase his dignity."

"If I were the incumbent vice chancellor of National University, I would never have done it,"he added.

Prof Mozaffar Ahmed said an institution should not be named at the whim of an individual or a group. He said such a practice reflects the poor quality of political culture of Bangladesh.

Expressing disgust at the decision, Prof Ahmed said there is many a important issue left to deal with, I have no time to spare for this.

Talking to The Daily Star, Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, president of Dhaka University Teachers Association (DUTA) and former syndicate member of National University, said the decision to change the name of NU shows the political attitude of the NU authorities.

"The National University is on the verge of a collapse as it is deeply troubled by appointments made with political ends," observed Dr Arefin.

He said the NU vice chancellor has engineered the renaming only to consolidate his position in the ruling party.

"The NU needs to be dismantled and colleges which offer honours and masters course should be brought under some public universities," the Duta president said.

Bangabandhu Parishad and JSD-backed Bangladesh Chhatra League blasted the NU vice chancellor and the senate for the renaming decision.

Leaders of the organisations said that the decision corroborates the culture of wholesale politicisation by the BNP-Jamaat led coalition government.

They said they will resist the government's attempt to change the name of the National University. They will not let the decision take effect at all costs.