Professor Jahanara Arju Resigns from BSMMU Over Dropping Bangabandhu’s Name

Professor Dr Jahanara Arju, of the Department of Cardiology at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), has tendered her resignation in protest against the renaming of the university that omits the name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh.

Dr Arju submitted her resignation on 1st August, marking a significant moment in her distinguished 14-year career at the institution, during which she played a pivotal role in medical treatment, education, and research.

Excerpts from the Resignation Letter

In her resignation letter, Dr Jahanara Arju wrote:

“The name of our greatest Bengali, the hero of our independence, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has been removed from the university’s title. I cannot accept this under any circumstances.”

She added:

“The decision to alter the name during this month of mourning, August, has deeply wounded me. It is out of my love and sense of responsibility towards Bangabandhu that I have taken this decision.”

Academic and Professional Background

Future Intentions

Dr Arju expressed a conditional openness to returning to the institution, stating in her resignation:

“If, in the future, the name ‘Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University’ is reinstated, I would be willing to rejoin.”

Reactions and Implications

The renaming of the university has already sparked mixed reactions among both professional communities and the general public. Dr Jahanara’s resignation has now intensified the debate, with many observers suggesting that her departure gives the controversy new urgency and visibility.

This development underlines broader societal tensions regarding national identity, historical reverence, and institutional symbolism, especially poignant during August—the month of national mourning in Bangladesh marking the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975.