Dhaka University on Monday observed the historic Flag-Hoisting Day.
However, ASM Abdur Rab—the then vice-president of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) and the first person to hoist the national flag of independent Bangladesh—could not attend due to illness.
ASM Abdur Rab had been invited as an honoured guest at the program, the event coordinator and Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Professor Dr Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan, told Dhaka Tribune.
Earlier, strong criticism was raised over the fact that at the DU program marking Flag Hoisting Day, ASM Abdur Rab—the first person to hoist Bangladesh’s national flag—was invited only as a general guest, instead of being accorded due recognition.
Many saw the arrangement—where the vice-chancellor attended as the chief guest while the flag hoister was listed merely as a guest—as part of a broader failure to properly honour key figures in the country’s history.
Morshed Mishu, assistant editor of the popular satire magazine Unmad, wrote on Facebook last Friday: “Mr ASM Abdur Rab, who first hoisted Bangladesh’s flag, is invited as an ‘honoured guest’… and the VC becomes the chief guest… Ah Selucus, what a strange country this is…”
Although he did not comment specifically on the criticism, Dhaka University Registrar Munshi Shams Uddin told Dhaka Tribune last Friday, “A similar arrangement was made last year as well.”
In 2023, during the tenure of VC Dr Akhtaruzzaman, Dhaka University observed the historic Flag-Hoisting Day with a discussion meeting and cultural programme. In the years prior to 2023, no one directly associated with the original flag hoisting had been invited to the event.
Historic Flag-Hoisting Day
In a historic student rally held at Dhaka University premises, the first Bangladesh flag was hoisted on March 2, 1971.
The flag was dark green with a red sphere in the centre on which the outline of the East Pakistan map was superimposed. It was unfurled by student leader ASM Abdur Rab on the rooftop of the western porch of the Arts Faculty of Dhaka University in front of hundreds of students and people. Saluting the flag, they all expressed their solidarity with the movement for liberation.
In the afternoon, the Pakistani flag was pulled down and the new flag was hoisted at Dhaka University and on the Secretariat premises.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in a press statement issued in the evening of March 2, 1971, strongly condemned the killing of unarmed persons at Farmgate and urged the government to desist forthwith from this reckless course. He reminded that Bengalis could not be suppressed anymore and they would no longer tolerate exploitation as a colony or as a market.
"They should be reminded that firing upon unarmed masses amounts to genocide and is a crime against humanity. They should know that if Bangladesh is a fire, as it will be if such confrontation continues, then they will not be able to escape the flames," added Bangabandhu.
Archer K Blood, then American Consul General in Dhaka, assessed the situation as: "It seemed to us that the Sheikh [Mujib] was trying to walk a slippery path. On the one hand he was trying to maintain his leadership and keep the initiative by calling for an end to martial law and a continuation of the struggle. On the other hand he was seeking to cool the crowds so as to avoid a tightening of military control."
Historic Flag-Hoisting Day 2026
On Monday, a program marking the historic ‘Flag-Hoisting Day’ was held at the Bot Tala premises adjacent to the Arts Building of the university. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan inaugurated the event by hoisting the national flag as the chief guest.
The program was chaired by Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr Sayema Haque Bidisha. Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed and Treasurer Professor Dr M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury spoke as special guests. The coordinator of the event and Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Professor Dr Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan, delivered the welcome address. Acting Registrar Munshi Shams Uddin Ahmed conducted the programme.
The university proctor, deans of various faculties, provosts of different halls, department chairpersons, directors of institutes, office heads, teachers, students, officers and employees were present on the occasion.
Speaking at the event, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan said that the national flag is not a mere piece of cloth; it is the symbol of a nation’s identity, unity and awakening.
Emphasizing the need to preserve national unity, he said there is no alternative to it—it is a question of our very existence. He expressed the hope that the national flag would continue to keep the nation united.
In her presidential speech, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr Sayema Haque Bidisha said that the historical context of the flag hoisting reminds us of the initial phase of our struggle for independence.
Students of the Department of Music and the Department of Dance performed the national anthem, patriotic songs and dance pieces at the programme.
Demands by students of Shaheed Sergeant Zahurul Huq Hall
Meanwhile, students of Shaheed Sergeant Zahurul Huq Hall submitted a memorandum to the hall provost demanding that Room 116 be turned into a museum to preserve the historic memory, and that a permanent arrangement be made for regular hoisting of the national flag at the relevant site.
At 2pm on Monday, a group of first-year students of the hall handed the memorandum to Hall Provost Professor Dr Faruk Shah.
They demanded that Room 116 be converted into a ‘Flag Museum’ or a similar historical museum, and that a permanent system for regularly hoisting the national flag be introduced within the hall premises.
The provost responded positively to the proposal.
Hall Provost Faruk Shah said, “I have taken the students’ proposal positively. We will discuss the matter later in a meeting with the resident students of the hall.”