The High Court yesterday declared illegal striking off 'Muslim' from its name.

The division bench comprising Justice Mohammad Joynal Abedin and Justice Sharifuddin Chaklader gave the verdict upon a writ challenging the DU syndicate decision of deleting the word Muslim in 1972.

The syndicate had taken the decision in the context of secular concept of the Constitution adopted by Bangladesh soon after independence. The decision was implemented under the University Ordinance of 1973.

Raqibudddin Ahmed, a retired secretary of the Shipping Corporation and former resident student of the Salimullah Muslim Hall filed the writ last year.