The Saga Over the Name of the Hall at Grbavica: Opposition Demands a Referendum for the Citizens of Novo Sarajevo!

The Civic Opposition Bloc in the Municipal Council of Novo Sarajevo will request a referendum for citizens on the name of the sports hall in Novo Sarajevo at the next council session. It has been announced by this bloc, which consists of SDP BiH, Democratic Front, Our Party, and Civic Alliance, that they will request all citizens of Novo Sarajevo to decide whether they want the new hall to be named "Goran Čengić Hall".

To call a referendum, it needs to be proposed by one-third of the councilors, and for its adoption, a simple majority in the Council of the Municipality of Novo Sarajevo is required, as stipulated by the Municipal Statute.

The Civic Opposition Bloc believes they will also gain the support of all honest councilors who have not sold their votes and for whom the will of the citizens is more important than party dictates.

It was stated that councilors from the ruling coalition led by SDA and SBB have a chance for a remedial exam in humanity and can correct the shameful decision not to name the hall in Novo Sarajevo after Goran Čengić. The question was also raised as to why and to whom Goran Čengić is a problem, to which Mayor Nedžad Koldžo and his obedient satellites have never provided an answer. However, the Civic Opposition Bloc considers their silence to be indicative of how shameful their reasons are.

The Civic Opposition Bloc emphasizes that Sarajevo has a duty to honor Goran Čengić, a man who fought for his city through sports during his life, a man who gave his life fighting for the life of his fellow citizen, a man who, armed only with courage and kindness, tried to stop injustice and evil in occupied Grbavica.

SDP, NS, DF, and GS will persevere in the fight for the Goran Čengić Hall. They believe that this fight is symbolic, but it is a fight for the multi-ethnic, free, humane, sporting, and justice-loving face and heart of Sarajevo, and that all our citizens should decide on this matter.

Goran Čengić was a well-known Sarajevo handball player, he played for the team of RK Bosna when the club won the Yugoslav Cup. The former handball player attempted to save his neighbor Husnija Ćerimagić in mid-June 1992 in occupied Grbavica, after which both of them were killed by Veselin Vlahović Batko.