New Delhi, Jan 10 (NationPress) A noticeable trend is emerging in Bangladesh aimed at diminishing or obscuring the legacy of its founding figure, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, amidst the alarming radicalisation of various institutions and segments of society.

Recently, officials at Dhaka University opted to change the name of the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall to 'Osman Hadi Hall', named after a recently slain radical Islamist leader.

Visuals captured protesters atop a statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, defacing the monument during their celebration of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation in August 2024.

Reports indicate that sculptures and murals of the leader have been vandalised in regions such as Kushtia, Chittagong, and Rangpur.

In February last year, protesters vandalised and set ablaze Mujibur Rahman's ancestral home, which had been transformed into a memorial museum.

Local news sources reported that new textbooks were introduced early last year, removing references to the Awami League founder's declaration of independence in 1971, replacing it with the name of Ziaur Rahman.

Zia was a prominent figure during the independence war and served as the country's President from 1977 until his assassination in 1981.

The revised textbooks also eliminated the title 'Father of the Nation' from Mujibur Rahman.

Prior to Dhaka University, the authorities at Islamic University in Kushtia rebranded four residential halls and one academic building, which previously bore names of Sheikh Hasina and her family.

Moreover, last year, Bangladesh re-issued currency that excluded the portrait of the nation's founding President, who is also the father of the ousted Prime Minister.

In a significant development, Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student faction of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, has made a resurgence, consolidating its influence on university campuses.

On Saturday, The Daily Star, a leading English news outlet in Bangladesh, noted that the recent defeats faced by the student body linked to the BNP indicate profound challenges for the party led by Tarique Rahman.

With the national elections approaching, a recent defeat on January 7 saw Chhatra Dal lose the Jagannath University Central Students' Union elections to a panel associated with Islami Chhatra Shibir, the main rival of the BNP.

The Jamaat-affiliated student organisation previously secured wins in union elections at several universities, including Dhaka University and Rajshahi University, between September and October last year.

This trend suggests a shift towards a more hardline ideology, potentially influencing the outcomes of the national elections set for February 12.

As the election date nears, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) reported a troubling rise in communal violence, documenting at least 51 incidents in December alone, including 10 murders and numerous cases of arson and property seizure.

The actions taken to erase Mujibur Rahman's symbols and the renaming of university halls after radical figures are widely viewed as attempts to rewrite history and diminish Mujib's integral role.

This reflects the tumultuous political landscape in Bangladesh and the ongoing struggle to redefine national identity in a post-Hasina context.

Supporters argue that these actions represent a 'people's verdict' and a tribute to contemporary political martyrs.

However, the erasure of Mujib's legacy could exacerbate divisions between his loyal supporters and emerging radical-nationalist factions.

For India, which supported Mujibur Rahman during the struggle for independence, these developments raise concerns, indicating a potential shift in Bangladesh's ideological stance.