Ducsu accused of building ‘July Nirbhik’ memorial without proper clearances

The Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) has been accused of constructing a permanent 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. Ducsu, however, said the decision was taken at a meeting in the presence of the then Vice-Chancellor, Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan.

According to university rules, permission from the administration is required to construct 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 2 September in the presence of the families of several victims of the July Uprising. Its foundation stone had earlier been laid on 5 August in the presence of family members of 50 martyrs and injured participants of the movement.

Ducsu did not obtain approval: VC

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor A B M Obaidul Islam said Ducsu did not obtain approval 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 5 August, when we inaugurated 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 addressed in consultation with the proctor,” he said.

Ducsu’s explanation

Ducsu, however, rejected the allegation that it proceeded without the university authorities’ consent.

Ducsu General Secretary S M Farhad said the decision to construct the memorial had been taken at an Executive Committee meeting of Ducsu in the presence of the then Vice-Chancellor, Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan, who was in office from August 2024 to February 2026.

“The issue of permission applies to student organisations 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.

“The Vice-Chancellor is the head of the university’s decision-making process and is also the president of Ducsu. When the Vice-Chancellor is present, constitutionally serves as its head, and is informed about all the decisions, it is difficult to understand whether there is any authority above the Vice-Chancellor whose permission would still be required after his knowledge and consent,” he said.

Farhad said the then Vice-Chancellor had been present throughout the decision-making process, from the initial planning to the adoption of the plan.

He also said the project was later placed on the agenda of a Ducsu Executive Committee meeting during its implementation.

“Even then, the current Vice-Chancellor, Prof A B M Obaidul Islam, did not express any negative concern regarding the discussion, review or decision. Not raising any objection means that he agreed with the decision-making process and the earlier steps,” Farhad said.

“Therefore, if someone expresses a different opinion after the project has been implemented, that would not be the proper process. Rather, the Vice-Chancellor’s decision, consent to the implementation and cooperation should be considered the university’s final decision,” he added.

University’s separate July Memorial initiative

Meanwhile, the Dhaka University administration has separately undertaken an initiative to construct 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 5 August.

The Ducsu-initiated ‘July Nirbhik’ memorial is a separate structure from the university administration’s proposed memorial.