1200 Crore Masterplan Awaits Approval, Set to Transform Dhaka Medical College

The government has prepared a comprehensive 1,200 crore taka development project (DPP) to address Dhaka Medical College's (DMC) infrastructure crisis, with approval expected at the November Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting.

Sources from DMC and the Directorate General of Medical Education (DGME) confirm the DPP, focused on the Bakshibazar hall area, will build new academic and residential facilities to resolve shortages.

The previous Awami League government initiated a 25,000 crore taka "Sopnosokhor" project for DMC and its hospital, but it stalled all developments by dangling unfulfilled promises.

DMC currently has four halls: Dr. Alim Chowdhury and Dr. Milon (for female students and interns) on the main campus, and Dr. Fazle Rabbee and Dr. Milon (for male students and interns) at Bakshibazar.

These halls, lacking repairs, have become dilapidated, with the 1955 academic building also partially unusable. As the most neglected among Bangladesh's eight oldest medical colleges, students endure unsafe hostels, and classes proceed amid risks.

In June, students protested with five demands: swift budget approval for new boys' and girls' hostels, interim housing, a dedicated academic building budget, separate approvals with fast implementation, and student representatives for transparency.

Post-protest, the government allocated funds for two DMC hostels under a 19-hostel project for government medical colleges. In addition to those, a separate DPP was formulated by DMC, DGME, Public Works Department, Health Engineering Department, and Housing and Building Department.

Under this, a 15-story academic building, two student hostels, and faculty housing will be constructed at Bakshibazar. Old hostels will be demolished post-construction, and the playground will be upgraded, with a proposed cost of 1,182 crore taka.

DMC Principal Professor Dr. Md. Kamrul Alam told *The Daily Campus*, “We've identified spaces at Bakshibazar for hostels and the academic building, positioned to retain the playground (Fazle Rabbee Hall field) so students don't complain about losing it.”

He clarified, “The two hostels from the 19-hostel project are separate, but our DPP incorporates them without overlap. With four needed, two from that project and two new; the academic building shifts most to Bakshibazar, with one girls' hostel on the main campus and the hospital intact. Dedicated overpasses will connect both sides, exclusive to students.”

On linking with DMC Hospital, Dr. Alam said, “For 15 years, a 5,000-bed hospital dream stalled college upgrades. We separated them in the DPP, as combining would complicate and delay.”

DGME Director General Professor Dr. Md. Nazmul Hossain told *The Daily Campus*, “Our eight oldest medical colleges are in dire straits, with DMC the most neglected—buildings collapsing daily. We've submitted the DPP to the Health Ministry and hope ECNEC approval in 2-3 months.”

On hospital integration, he noted, “Some in the ministry want it combined, but it requires coordination with another department (Health Directorate), whose DPP isn't ready. We can proceed with DMC's, as it's entirely at Bakshibazar, with one hostel separate from the hospital.”

He added, “Beyond DMC, we've planned upgrades for all medical colleges. Recent buildings went to Sir Salimullah, Rangpur, and Rajshahi; DPPs for Rangpur, Mymensingh, Sylhet Osmani, and Barishal Sher-e-Bangla are submitted. The 19-hostel project, housing 8,850 students (35-40% of total), is underway. We're also expanding seats and adding hostels for second-generation colleges like Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman, Faridpur, and Cumilla. Implementation will visibly improve them.”