Giving emphasis on medical science and nursing education in Sylhet Division, government has approved the formal planning at the cabinet meeting of ministers, in which Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over.
With the government’s formal decision, Sylhet Medical University, the fourth of its kind in the country is going to be established in Sylhet. Held at Prime Mister’s office, the regular cabinet meeting okayed the formal planning. After the meeting held yesterday, Cabinet Secretary (Co-ordination and Renovation) A.N.M Ziaul Alam disclosed this to the media and said all the government and non government medical colleges- Sylhet M.A.G Osmani Medical College, Jalalabad Ragib Rabeya Medical College, North-East Medical College, Park View Medical College, Sylhet Central Dental College will be brought under affiliation of Sylhet Medical University, of which site primarily has been selected at South Surma Upazila in Sylhet District. Besides, the state-run Sylhet Nursing College, Begum Rabeya Khatun Chowdhury Nursing College, North-East Nursing College, Sylhet Al-Amin Nursing College will come under affiliation of Sylhet Medical University’s Nursing and Midwifery Faculty. Besides, other medical, dental, nursing and midwifery institutions which will introduce under graduate course and bachelor course will also be able to get affiliation from the aforesaid fourth Medical University. Md Nasim (together with Health and Medical Education) Minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally announced for the establishment of a separate Medical University in Sylhet in huge public meeting held at Sylhet Government Alia Madrasha ground on 21st January, 2016. The Health Minister opined, the premier’s commitment for the establishment of highest seat of imparting medical education in Sylhet is going to be materialized, for which medical and nursing graduates will not long for affliction and certification from a general university.
Health Minister Md Nasim added that this university will be for enhancing the standard of medical education, its supervision and in special medical academic fields, carrying on research for M.Phil, and Ph.D will also be introduced in this university. All the medical colleges and nursing colleges under the jurisdiction of Sylhet Division will be given affiliation by this proposed medical university. The primary law and enactment of Sylhet Medical University have been approved by Awami-League Government Led by Sheikh Hasina. He further said, with the epoch-making decision taken up, the present government has acknowledged good news for Sylhet Division dwellers. Like Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) has affiliation authority and as such Sylhet Medical University will possess identical authority of affiliation.
In the proposed Sylhet Medical University Act, the aim and objective of the establishment of this university, formation of authority at its power, the jurisdiction of University Grants Commission (UGC), curriculum, teaching methodology, law, ordinance and regulations are going to be formulated and promulgated by the government soon. In the ordinance it can be mentioned here that all the medical colleges irrespective of government and non-government under Sylhet Administrative division will come up under the affiliation of Sylhet Medical University. In the university post graduation and doctorate degree will be offered to medical graduates in any discipline or subject under medical science, with the application of both medical science and modern technology. Besides, Bachelor Degree course in Nursing and Midwifery will also be taught and affiliated under this Sylhet Medical University.
As per Sylhet Medical University Ordinance, the President of the Republic will be Chancellor. There will be appointed Vice-Chancellor, two pro Vice-chancellors, one Treasurer and a Controller of Examinations under Sylhet Medical University. Amongst the University Professors or requisite experienced in Medical Science, the President and Chancellor will appoint Vice-Chancellor for four years term of Sylhet Medical University. But one Vice-Chancellor cannot hold office for more than two terms at a stretch. Besides there will be University Syndicate, Academic Council, Faculty, Curriculum and Syllabus Committee, Board of Advance Finance Committee, Planning and Development Committee, Election Board, Ethical committee, Discipline Committee formed under the university ordinance. Vice-Chancellor will be the head of Syndicate while two parliament members, Pro-Vice-Chancellors and others from various professionals will be members on to the syndicate of Sylhet Medical University. Besides, on to the syndicate, government representatives from Health, Education and Finance Ministries will act as syndicate members. In the ordinance and promulgated law, the power, function and responsibilities of syndicate, the existence of faculty and departments and their functions will be elaborately described in the ordinance. Besides, the responsibility of all those committees will also feature in the ordinance too. Sylhet Medical University will trail behind BSMMU, Rajshahi Medical University and Chittagong Medical University. Meanwhile with appointment of Vice-Chancellor all the three Medical Universities have stated functioning. The Laws enacted for BSMMU, Rajshahi and Chittagong Medical Universities will also be formulated and promulgated for the proposed Sylhet Medical University. It can be mentioned here that apart several non-government universities, there are state-run universities- Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), Sylhet Agricultural University, the third state-run one Sylhet Medical University is going to be offing in Sylhet. For this, Sylhet Division will march ahead in professional education too.
