Students of Gazipur Digital University urges govt to change institution's name

Students of Gazipur Digital University have called on the government to immediately change the institution's name to include the word "Bangladesh," terming it an issue of national identity and academic recognition.

In a memorandum submitted to the Ministry of Education recently, they expressed frustration over the prolonged delay despite repeated assurances from the authorities.

They said that without the inclusion of "Bangladesh" in the university's name, the institution struggles to establish its proper standing both at home and abroad.

Speaking to The Daily Star, student leader FH Faisal said, "We have announced a long march towards the University Grants Commission on Monday to press home our demand."

Photo: Collected

Established in 2016 as a specialised institution focussing on emerging technologies, the university was officially named "Gazipur Digital University" through a gazette notification issued on February 13 this year. However, the students rejected the decision, saying the name neither reflects its status as a specialised public university nor aligns with international academic standards.

They further said the university is not part of the government's "University in Every District" initiative and therefore should have a distinctive name that properly reflects its specialised academic focus. The institution is dedicated to advanced technologies and should not be treated as a general university under the government's expansion plan, they added.

The students also criticised a recent government decision that approved name changes for 12 other universities following a standardised structure but excluded GDU from the process. Describing the move as discriminatory and inconsistent, they said a university's name is more than a label; it reflects the institution's academic mission and reputation.

They referred to several specialised public universities that already bear the country's name, including Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Bangladesh Agricultural University, and Bangladesh Textile University. Their university, they argued, deserves the same recognition.

A previous proposal for a name change was also submitted but rejected, prompting the students to present a fresh proposal. They said a nationally representative name would support the university's ambition to become a Centre of Excellence and a National Hub for Research and Innovation.

The students also proposed four alternative names for consideration: Bangladesh University of Technology, Bangladesh University of Future Technologies, Bangladesh University of Information and Technologies, and Bangladesh University of Advanced Technologies.