Widespread criticism has erupted across the country over the renaming of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall at Islamic University (IU) to Shah Azizur Rahman Hall.

Shah Azizur Rahman remains a highly controversial figure due to his collaboration with Pakistan  against Bangladesh’s war of  independence in 1971.

The decision on renaming the hall was made at the 267th syndicate meeting held on the university campus in Kushtia on February 26, chaired by IU Vice-Chancellor Professor Nakib Mohmmad Nasrullah.

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Netizens began denouncing the decision immediately after news broke about the renaming the hall.

Shah Aziz opposed the Language Movement in 1952. During the Liberation War, he became a member of the cabinet led by Abdul Motaleb Malik in then-East Pakistan, later serving as the revenue minister.

He opposed the Liberation War and was part of the delegation sent by Pakistan to the United Nations, where he strongly denied that the Pakistan Army had carried out genocide in Bangladesh through "Operation Searchlight."

Shah Aziz was arrested as a collaborator of Pakistan for opposing the Liberation War and was tried under the Bangladesh Collaborators (Special Tribunals) Order, 1972.

The university authorities also renamed three other halls following the directive of the education ministry's Secondary and Higher Education Division.

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A press release, signed by IU acting registrar HM Ali Hasan, was issued in this regard on Wednesday.

According to the press release, Sheikh Hasina Hall has been renamed 'July-36 Hall,' Sheikh Russell Hall as 'Shahid Anas Hall,' Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Hall as 'Ummul Mumineen Ayesha Siddiqah Hall,' and Wazed Miah Science Building as 'Ibn Sina Science Building.'