Failure of medical college tells on 225 students’ career

When students of all medical colleges are preparing for their final examinations, students of recently-closed Shah Makhdum Medical College of Rajshahi are on the street, demanding their migration to other medical colleges.

All the 225 students of the medical college have been agitating since November last year to get their transcript from authorities of the closed college.

The health ministry closed the medical college permanently for violating the private medical college installation and operating rules and regulations.

The ministry also instructed the college authorities to arrange migration of all the students to other private medical colleges under Rajshahi Medical University.

Meanwhile, the ministry fixed 25 January for final examinations, called professional examinations, but the participation of Shah Makhdum students is still uncertain as the college authorities are yet to release the transcripts.

The students alleged that college authorities are demanding extra fees to release the transcripts.

They said the college authorities did not take any classes since February last year. And even the number of classes taken in the previous years is also very few.

Shakila Dil Afroz Misty, a final year student, told TBS, "We got admission in this college with the hope to become a doctor. The health ministry approved the college, but it is now closed, making our lives uncertain as no one is taking our responsibility."

She said, "On 2 November, the health ministry shut down our college, citing scarcity of teachers and lack of medical hospital facilities. At that time, the ministry assured us that we would be allowed to migrate to other private medical colleges under Rajshahi Medical University, but we could not get admission even in three months."

"I am a student of the 2014-15 session. I learnt very little from the college as we had no professor and there was no clinical examination, which is very important for the medical students. As a result, we are going to be doctors without proper education," said Abdullah Tarif, another final year student.

"Actually, we are passing a very crucial moment as we do not know what is waiting for us. We will lose a year more, if we do not get the transcript in time," he added.

Meanwhile, the Shah Makhdum Medical College authorities recently issued a notice asking the students to pay due fees for taking part in the first and third professional examinations, violating the direction of Rajshahi Medical University, which regulates the medical colleges in the Rajshahi division.

Professor Dr Nowshad Ali, dean of  Rajshahi Medical University, told The Business Standard that they have issued notices to the college authorities to hand over the students' transcripts several times. But they did not pay heed.

"We have no other option now but taking stern action against the college authorities. We are waiting for the health ministry's decision," he said.

Professor Dr AKM Enayet Hossain, director general of Health Education Directorate, told TBS that they will take necessary action if Rajshahi Medical University seeks help.

There are more than 40,000 students in the 36 government medical colleges and 70 private medical colleges in the country.

Shah Makhdum Medical College started operation in 2014. Now the college has 225 students in seven batches. The college authorities had failed to get registration of Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council because of not fulfilling the required conditions.

Earlier in March 2019, following allegations of violating Private Medical College Establishment and Management Policy 2011, an enquiry team from the health ministry asked the college authorities to fulfill requirements necessary for operating a private medical college.

On 29 February last year, another enquiry team found that the college authorities did not fulfill any of the requirements.

The health ministry finally ordered closure of Shah Makhdum Medical College on 2 November last year.