280 seats reduced in govt medical colleges

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has restructured the seat numbers of 37 government medical colleges, reducing 280 seats from the total. 

The number has now been fixed at 5,100.

This decision was announced in an office order today (10 November), signed by Sanjeeb Das, senior assistant secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Division. 

The decision was taken after a meeting on 30 October, chaired by the adviser to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, where it was decided to restructure the existing seats of the MBBS course in 37 government medical colleges of the country.

According to the order, there are currently 5,380 seats in 37 government medical colleges. However, under the new decision, the number now stands at 5,100.

Although 355 seats were reduced in 14 medical colleges, including Dhaka Medical College, 75 seats were increased in three other colleges.

Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Gazipur, Tangail Medical College, and Patuakhali Medical College each had 25 seats increased.

Medical colleges where seats have been reduced

According to the office order, Dhaka, Chattogram, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet MAG Osmani, Sher‑e‑Bangla Medical College Barishal, and Sir Salimullah Medical College each had 25 seats reduced. These eight medical colleges previously had 250 seats each, which have now been reduced to 225.

In addition, the number of seats at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College has been reduced from 230 to 225.

Habiganj Medical College has had 50 seats reduced, while Netrokona, Nilphamari, Naogaon, Magura, and Chandpur medical colleges have each had 25 seats reduced, fixing the number of seats at 50 in each of these colleges.

Seats reduced in private medical colleges 

The number of seats in private medical colleges has been reduced by 292 this year. Also, Bikrampur Bhuiyan Medical College in Munshiganj and Sikder Medical College in Shariatpur will not be allowed to admit students this year.

Seats have been reduced in several private institutions. Sirajul Islam Medical College lost 50 seats, Shahabuddin Medical College 15, City Medical College 30, Samorita Medical College 15, Marks Medical College 20, Mansur Ali Medical College 15, Central International Medical College 15, Delta Medical College 15, Diabetic Association Medical College in Faridpur 40, and Abdul Hamid Medical College 45.

Including both government and private institutions, the Ministry of Health has decided to reduce a total of 615 seats across 24 medical colleges in the country.

Dr Md Liaquat Hossain, acting registrar of the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC), said several medical colleges are facing shortages of teachers, classrooms, and laboratory facilities. To improve the quality of medical education, seat allocations in these institutions have been reorganised.

According to the Directorate General of Medical Education (DGME), applications for the MBBS admission test will open tomorrow, and the exam will be held on 12 December.