Students Protest Over Name and Fees at Maritime University

Students of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University have announced a boycott of classes and exams, demanding the removal of "Sheikh Mujibur Rahman" and the honorific "Bangabandhu" from the university’s name. Additionally, they have called for a reduction in semester fees. The students plan to hold a demonstration in front of the university's Meghna Building at 9:00 AM on Sunday.

In a press release issued on Saturday under the banner of “General Students,” they declared their decision to suspend all academic activities. The announcement was also shared through an official statement on the university's central student union Facebook page.

The statement highlighted dissatisfaction with the university administration’s lack of responsiveness to demands raised during protests following August. Despite repeated inquiries into the progress of reforms, the responses from senior administrative officials were described as negligent. Consequently, the students decided unanimously to refrain from attending academic activities starting Sunday, December 15.

The statement further instructed all students to gather in front of the Meghna Building at 9:00 AM on Sunday, adding that no classes, labs, or exams would be attended until further notice. The decision was made with representatives from all departments present, and students were urged to comply with the collective action.

This protest follows earlier demonstrations on September 5, during which students raised demands for reduced semester fees, a change to the university’s name, and other reforms. Despite multiple meetings and syndicate discussions, the lack of satisfactory outcomes has led to the escalation of protests through a boycott of academic activities.