Khulna: Khulna Medical University (KMU), founded in 2021 following persistent demands from the local populace, is set to commence its academic, medical, research, and administrative operations at the Khulna Specialized Hospital, which will serve as its campus. The Health Education and Family Welfare Division issued a government order on August 12, permitting the use of the specialized hospital as the university's premises.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, this development is expected to facilitate the university's comprehensive academic and research activities, addressing the long-standing demand for a medical university in the region. Established five years ago, KMU has been operating from a rented multi-storey building in the Nirala residential area of Khulna city. The university is currently staffed by 36 officers and employees engaged in administrative functions.
University sources indicate that preparations are underway to initiate admissions for master's programs starting January next year. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Rafiqus Saleheen, a distinguished physician and robotic surgeon, stated that the approval to utilize Khulna Specialized Hospital as the university campus marks a significant milestone. "It will open a new chapter in healthcare, medical education, and medical research in the Khulna region," he remarked.
Dr. Saleheen highlighted that KMU is poised to become the country's second medical university after Bangladesh Medical University and will play a pivotal role in advancing the health sector in the Khulna division. He emphasized that the specialized hospital is well-equipped to start academic activities, as the master's programs will involve a limited number of students, thus not requiring extensive classroom space.
"An adequate number of professors and associate professors are already posted or on deputation at the hospital. If additional faculty is needed, we will recruit them," he added. The specialized hospital currently offers advanced treatment for heart, kidney, cancer, and neurological conditions, though patients occasionally encounter challenges due to limited beds and insufficient allocations, particularly for ICU and CCU services as well as diagnostic tests.
Officials express hope that the university's activities will enhance the quality of healthcare and bring modern treatment facilities closer to the region's residents. Concurrently, land acquisition for the first phase of the university's permanent campus project, covering 100 acres, is ongoing. Khulna Divisional Health Department sources stated that a master plan involving three projects envisions a 1,000-bed hospital, along with academic and administrative facilities, residential accommodation for doctors and staff, a dedicated cancer hospital unit, and preventive healthcare services.
National Parliament Whip and Khulna-3 lawmaker Rakibul Islam Bokul noted that the initiative was part of an election pledge by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to improve healthcare for the people of Khulna. "Khulna Medical University will certainly move to its own campus, but that will take time. We therefore decided not to delay academic activities and start them at the specialized hospital," he explained.
Bokul also mentioned plans to establish a dedicated robotic surgery unit and introduce advanced services such as open-heart surgery, stent placement, and dialysis, aimed at reducing treatment costs for cancer patients and making healthcare more accessible to low-income individuals. Sheikh Ashrafuzzaman, President of the Khulna Development Action Coordination Committee, praised the government initiative to relocate KMU to its own campus, underscoring it as a long-awaited demand of the Khulna populace. He urged the government to expedite the commencement of other university activities.