Staff Correspondent

A bill titled “Sheikh Hasina Medical University, Khulna Bill, 2021” was passed in parliament yesterday to set up a medical university in Khulna division, aiming to expand the facilities for medical education, research and healthcare services in the region.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque placed the bill which was passed unanimously through voice vote.

According to the objective of the bill, it is essential to set up a medical university in Khulna division to create postgraduate physicians and medical researchers as well as improve the quality of education at medical colleges in the region.

The proposed law has been formulated keeping similarities with the laws of Rajshahi, Chattogram and Sylhet medical universities.

The president will be the chancellor of the proposed medical university.

All government and private medical, dental and nursing colleges and other institutes related to medical education in Khulna division will be affiliated to the university.

In the bill, research, higher education and the standards of healthcare services and expansion of the facilities were given special importance.

The move came as part of the government’s plan to set up a medical university in each division of the country.

On January 19, the bill was placed in parliament which was sent to the parliamentary standing committee on the health ministry for further scrutiny. On September 21, 2020, the cabinet approved the draft.

Speaking on the bill, several MPs including BNP’s Harunur Rashid, Rumin Farhana, Jatiya Party’s Rowshan Ara Mannan said the health minister has failed to stop widespread corruption and irregularities in the health sector.