File photo of Sher-e-Bangla Hall, BUET Collected

Most of these newly-created ‘destination points’ received a review rating of 4.8 out of 5

Google Maps has been showing some anonymous edits where toilets inside Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) residential hall Sher-e-Bangla hall have been renamed after the suspected killers of Abrar Fahad.

On October 7, Abrar Fahad, a second year student of Electrical and Electronic Engineering department, was beaten to death inside the university's Sher-e-Bangla Hall.

Some leaders of Chhatra League's Buet chapter have been accused of beating him to death for his alleged involvement with Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami.

Dhaka Tribune found out that a total of 1o toilet spots inside Sher-e-Bangla hall were named after nine Chhatra League men accused of the murder.

Two toilets were named after the expelled Buet Chhatra League’s general secretary Mehedi Hasan Rasel as: “Oppressor Rasel Public Toilet,” and “Killer Rasel Public Toilet.”

The rest of the toilets were named after Abrar murder case accused Amit Saha, Anick Sarker, Ifti Mosharraf Sokal, Sefayetul Islam Zion, Mehedi Hasan Robein, Muhtasim Fuad, Ishtiaq Munna, and Jemmie.

Names of most of these toilets on Google maps start with a prefix of “Killer” and ends with “Public Toilet,” keeping the names of the accused in the middle, such as “Killer Amit Saha Public Toilet.”

Most of these newly-created ‘destination points’ received a review rating of 4.8 out of 5. Only “Killer Ishtiaq Munna Public Toilet” received 4.3 points in review rating.

Sher-e-Bangla hall briefly renamed after Abrar on Google Maps

Around 12:00pm on Wednesday, Dhaka Tribune found that the name of Sher-e-Bangla hall on Google Maps was changed to “Shahid (Martyr) Abrar Hall.” Some 10 minutes later, the name was changed back to Sher-e-Bangla hall.

Around 4.50pm, Google Maps showed the hall to be again renamed as “Abrar Hall.” Around 5.30pm, Dhaka Tribune found the name of the hall changed to “Saheed (Martyr) Abrar Hall.” Around 5.50pm, the name changed back to “Shahid Abrar Hall” in Bangla. Screenshot of the satellite image of Sher-e-Bangla hall Google Maps

Although demonstrators called off their movement after protesting for six consecutive days, they announced that the protests would continue using different ways.

Some students claimed that the name changing might be a part of showing hatred for Abrar’s killers, and paying tribute to late Abrar.

Seeking anonymity, a 2nd year student of Buet’s Electrical and Electronic Engineering department told Dhaka Tribune: “Although toilets are useful but it is also considered as the dirtiest, and worst place in our society. I think naming the toilets after the killers is an innovative way of protesting from the student’s side, whosoever did this.”

Screenshot of the map showing the renamed toilets of the residential hall Google MapsProcedure to change or add a name of a place on Google maps

‘Google supports’ suggest a freelance basis contributing feature from any Gmail account holder.

Google says: “If the information about a place in Google Maps is inaccurate, you can let us know.”

When anyone click ‘Change name’ or ‘other details’, an editing screen opens. It contains the location name, category, street address, a map showing the location, hours, phone number, and website URL.

To change the name, category, or street address, a person has to click the information that's already there, and overtype it.

Anyone is free to create any new place name by placing the navigation key to anywhere in the maps, and the new place is created after due procedure.

How long does it take for corrections on Google Maps to be published?

Goggle reviews any edits, so the changes might take some time to be updated on the maps. Google may email the individual about the status of his or her edits, and may forward questions from other people who review the edits.