DUCSU Museum Row: Jinnah Out, Mujib In After Student Backlash

Public Lokpal
September 15, 2026

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DUCSU Museum Row: Jinnah Out, Mujib In After Student Backlash

The Controversy

The Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) museum sparked intense political backlash after removing portraits of Bangladesh’s founding leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and replacing them with images of Pakistan’s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

The exhibition included Jinnah's controversial 1948 speech declaring Urdu as Pakistan's sole state language, drawing immediate outrage from students and faculty.

The Aftermath

Critics argued that honoring Jinnah—who opposed the Bengali language movement—disrespected national history. In response, a student physically shredded Jinnah's portraits inside the museum.

The Dhaka University administration quickly distanced itself, condemning the unilateral exhibition as unauthorized and contrary to the legacy of the 1971 Liberation War.

Consequently, the university launched a formal investigation into the student union's actions, while the controversial portraits were removed.

This incident highlights deep, ongoing ideological divisions over national memory in post-Hasina Bangladesh.