Following public outrage, the original names of Shaheed Advocate Amin Uddin Stadium and Bir Muktijoddha Rafiqul Islam Bakul Swimming Pool in Pabna have been reinstated just a week after they were changed.
The decision was reversed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports after criticism from local citizens, political activists, and freedom fighters.
Protesters highlighted the historical significance of the two individuals—Amin Uddin, the first MP killed during the 1971 Liberation War, and Rafiqul Islam Bakul, a key organizer of the war and the first to raise the national flag in Pabna.
However, the renaming of Suchitra Sen Girls’ Dormitory at Pabna Edward College remains unchanged. The dormitory was renamed ‘July-36’, sparking backlash from cultural groups and citizens who regard Suchitra Sen as a symbol of pride for Pabna and Bangladesh.
Cultural figures, including artists and activists, expressed disappointment and demanded restoration of her name. Despite protests, the college authority has yet to reverse the decision.
Suchitra Sen, born Ruma Dasgupta in Pabna in 1931, later migrated to India during the 1947 Partition. She became a legendary actress in Bengali cinema.
Her ancestral home in Pabna, once requisitioned and leased to a controversial trust, was reclaimed by the government and turned into a memorial museum in 2014 following a Supreme Court verdict.
Meanwhile, names of two other student halls previously named after members of a former ruling family were also changed following recent political upheavals.
