Staff Reporter:
The Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) has been accused of constructing a per-manent memorial titled ‘July Nirbhik’ (Fearless July) on the Dhaka University campus without obtaining written approval from the university authorities.
Officials of the university administration said DUCSU did not seek or obtain any written permission before constructing the structure while, while DUCSU are saying that the decision was taken at a meeting in the presence of the previous VC, Prof. Niaz Ahmed Khan.
According to university rules, permission from the administration is required for constructing any permanent structure on campus. The matter is then placed before the university’s Site Selection Committee, which examines the proposal and submits a report before any further decision is taken.
However, no such written approval was obtained by DUCSU for the construction of the ‘July Nirbhik’ memorial, university officials said.
The memorial, located beside the DUCSU building and Madhur Canteen, was inaugurated by DUCSU Vice-President Sadik Kayem on September 2 in the presence of families of several victims of the July Uprising. Its foundation stone had earlier been laid on August 5 in the presence of fami-ly members of 50 martyrs and injured participants of the movement.
VC: DUCSU did not obtain approval
Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor A B M Obaidul Islam said DUCSU did not obtain ap-proval from the university administration before constructing the memorial.
He said the university has a specific procedure for constructing any structure inside the campus.
“According to the university’s rules, anyone seeking to construct a structure inside the campus must first apply to the university administration. Then a meeting of the Site Selection Committee is held, and subsequent decisions are taken based on the committee’s report,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
“But DUCSU did not obtain any approval for constructing this structure. On August 5, when we in-augurated our July Memorial, we held an emergency meeting of the Site Selection Committee,” he added.
“Besides, I instructed the proctor to take necessary measures in this regard. The matter will be ad-dressed in consultation with the proctor,” he said.
DUCSU, however, rejected the allegation that it had proceeded without the university authorities’ consent.
DUCSU General Secretary S M Farhad said the decision to construct the memorial had been taken at an EC meeting of DUCSU in the presence of the the previous VC, Prof. Niaz Ahmed Khan, who was in the post from August 2024 to February 2026.
“The issue of permission applies to student organizations or third parties who are not primary stakeholders or decision-makers of the university. When they undertake something, the question of permission arises as a matter of procedure,” Farhad said.
He argued that the Vice-Chancellor is the university’s highest decision-making authority and also serves as the president of DUCSU.
Meanwhile, the Dhaka University administration has separately undertaken an initiative to con-struct a ‘July Smriti Stambha’ (July Memorial) on campus to commemorate those who were killed during the July mass uprising. A committee was formed in July to oversee the project, and the foundation stone of the proposed memorial was laid at Mal Chattar on August 5.
The DUCSU-initiated ‘July Nirbhik’ memorial is a separate structure from the university admin-istration’s proposed memorial.
