Dhaka Medical College to remain closed indefinitely

Dhaka Medical College will remain closed indefinitely from Sunday (June 22). The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the Academic Council on Saturday (June 21).

Dhaka Medical College Principal Professor Dr. Md. Kamrul Alam said that an emergency meeting of the Academic Council was held today to resolve the ongoing impasse in view of the students’ demands regarding the infrastructural conditions of the academic building and hostel of DMCH. The Dhaka Medical College Academic Council agrees with the students’ demands. That is why the Department of Health Education of the Ministry of Health is working regularly on this issue. Again, despite giving notices many times and creating alternative accommodation, the halls are not being vacated due to the non-cooperation of students of some batches.

The Principal said that the new batch K-82, either self-motivated or instigated, boycotted the important orientation program of their lives. As a result, a standstill has been created in the academic activities of the college. In order to resolve the deadlock, students have been ordered to leave the hall by 12 noon on Sunday.

However, he said that students participating in the university’s professional MBBS examination and foreign students will be exempted from this.

According to relevant sources, the students of the college started the movement on May 28 with five demands. During this, they submitted memorandums to the health advisor and the principal several times.

The five demands are:

1. The budget for the hostel and the female dormitory should be passed as soon as possible.

2. Alternative accommodation should be arranged for living until the new accommodation system is built.

3. The budget for the new accommodation and alternative accommodation should be passed separately and visible steps should be taken as soon as possible.

4. The risky structures of the old academic building should be declared abandoned and shifted elsewhere and the budget for the new building should be passed.

5. Representatives should be appointed from among the students and necessary measures should be taken to monitor the progress of the activities and ensure transparency.

A student named Touhidul Abedin Tanvir said, “We have had this problem for seven to eight years. We have talked to the authorities several times. But there has been no solution. We started the sit-in action plan from May 28. During this, we have submitted memorandums to the health advisor and the principal several times. But we have not been given any assurance. Then we announced the closure of all academic work from June 6.”

He also said, “A few days ago, the Director General of the Department of Health came to visit us. If the ministry had given us assurances or talked to us, we would have taken other steps.”

However, the authorities have said that all types of services of Dhaka Medical College Hospital will continue during this time.