Anniversary of the founding of modern dynamic BSMMU

The Institute of Post Graduate Medicine and Research (IPGM&R) was established in December 1965 to replace the first three-star Shahbagh Hotel in Dhaka with the aim of providing post-graduate courses in medical education and health services. Although the institution was responsible for post-graduate education and research, it did not have the capacity to award degrees. The degree was awarded by Dhaka University. The University of Dhaka used to offer MBBS degrees in many medical colleges including IPGM&R activities. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University enters its 25th year on April 30, 2022. On behalf of the University, I extend my sincere greetings and congratulations to all and first of all I respectfully remember Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the greatest Bengali of all time, founder of independent Bangladesh and Father of the Nation.

If he had not been born, a country called Bangladesh would not have been born. We are grateful to Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the deserving daughter of the Father of the Nation, for ensuring the basic rights of the people to healthcare and improving the quality of medical, education, research and services in the country. He established the first independent public medical university in Bangladesh. During the time of MA Kaderi, the first Vice Chancellor of the University, I first served as the Deputy Registrar (Administration), (Acting Registrar). Later I served as the director (hospital).

I also serve as the Dean of the Faculty of Public Health. I have been a member of the Syndicate and Academic Council for a long time. I played a leading role in the formation of Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad in this university and I was the founding president. From 2015-2018, I served as the Pro-VC (Administration) of the University. As such, since the establishment of the university, I have been in charge of the university in various ways. Most recently, on March 29 last year, by the grace of Allah, Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina nominated me as the Vice Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University for the next three years and His Excellency the President Mr Abdul Hamid appointed me.Through the great war of liberation, the independent sovereign People’s Republic of Bangladesh was achieved in exchange for the blood of 3 million martyrs and the honor of 2 lakh mothers and sisters. When the great architect of independent Bangladesh, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took initiative for the overall rehabilitation and development of the health system of independent Bangladesh, Bangabandhu’s personal physician Prof Dr Mr Nurul Islam was given the overall responsibility for the development of the then IPGM&R. On January 10, 1982, Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib was admitted to the then IPGM&R under Professor Dr Sheikh Ashraf Ali.

She was undergoing treatment under the care of Sheikh Ashraf Ali. Bangabandhu came here at that time due to the admission of Begum Mujib. He also recommended the introduction of higher education and research in medical education and further development of IPGM&R and establishment of BCPS for the development of medical education and specialist doctors in the country. Bangabandhu established the first blood bank at the then IPGM&R to provide safe blood supply and safe blood circulation to the blood needs of the people of this country. Bangabandhu inaugurated this blood bank with his own hands, the touch of Bangabandhu’s hand still exists in the blood circulation department of the university. Bangabandhu was the first to elevate the status of doctors in this country and raised their employment from second class to first class.Prior to the establishment of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, 13 governments and 5 private medical colleges and 5 post-graduate educational institutions including NIPSOM were not able to play a significant role in improving the quality of medical education, research and services in the country.

The Bangladesh Medical Association has been demanding the establishment of an independent and research-rich medical university in the country since independence and the autonomy of all medical colleges for the development of medical education in Bangladesh, especially higher education. It is to be noted here that the demands of the doctors were also mentioned in the 11 points given by the Student Struggle Council in the student movement of ’69. Bangladesh Medical Association, Bangladesh Medical Teachers Association Federation and IPGMR Teachers Association have played a strong role in the movement to establish an independent and research rich medical university.

I consider myself fortunate to be able to take an active part in the university establishment movement by being directly involved with every organization. 21 years after the assassination of Bangabandhu, Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the worthy daughter of Bangabandhu, got the responsibility of running the government. As the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been given the responsibility of running the government, the medical community of this country has found a place of hope to fulfill all their expectations in the development of the medical system of this country. With the establishment of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, the People’s Leader Sheikh Hasina initiated a groundbreaking advancement in the field of higher medical education in this country as well as implementing the long standing just demands of the medical community of this country of Bangladesh.

Professor Dr Md Sharfuddin Ahmed
Vice-Chancellor
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University