Dhaka, September 20, 2024 – Bangladesh Medical Students’ Society (BMSS) celebrated its 15th anniversary by hosting a major event, the National General Assembly, on September 20, 2024. With 600 students from more than 53 medical and dental colleges representing all eight divisions of the country, the event became the largest ever organized by medical students in Bangladesh.
The theme of this year’s NGA was ‘Beyond the Stethoscope:Reformation of Bangladesh.’ The event took place from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM at Daffodil International University in Dhaka. It was graced by distinguished guests from various sectors. The esteemed guests of the opening ceremony were Dr. Md. Masudur Rahman, Director(Alternative Medicine), DGME; Salma Sultana, National Professional Officer (Communications), WHO Bangladesh; Dr. Saima Khan, Country Director, UNAIDS Bangladesh; Dr. Syed Muhammad Baqui Billah, Deputy Director, DGME; Professor Dr. A B M Alauddin Chowdhury, Head of the Department , Public Health, Daffodil International University; Professor Dr. Md. Bellal Hossain, Dean (in charge), Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Daffodil International University; Dr. Abu Jamil Faisel, President (elect), Public Health Association of Bangladesh and Dr. Sharmeen Yasmeen, Professor and Head of the Department, Community Medicine, Bangladesh Medical College. They delivered valuable speeches on the current context of the country, the state of the healthcare system, ongoing reforms and the role of medical students in these reformative changes.The unveiling ceremony of BMSS BUZZ 2024 took place at the conclusion of the opening ceremony, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
Following the inaugural session, the thematic event featured a panel discussion by several distinguished speakers, including Professor Dr. Humayun Kabir Talukdar, Professor of Curriculum Development and Evaluation Centre for Medical Education (CME); Dr. Syed Mahfuzul Huq, National Professional Officer (NCD), WHO Bangladesh; Dr. Sayed Rubayet, Country Director, Ipas Bangladesh; Commander S M Ferdousuzzaman, psc (Retd), Country Representative, MedGlobal Bangladesh and Nishita Sanaul, Training Program Coordination Assistant, UNDP. The speakers shared their insights and experiences on enhancing the quality of medical education, reforming reproductive health policies, and the role of medical students in disaster management. The event provided students with an opportunity for in-depth discussions and a Question & Answer session.
At the end of the discussion, participants received hands-on training from some of the country’s leading medical experts. The workshop featured the following trainers: representatives from the Bangladesh Endocrine Society for blood glucose testing and insulin administration techniques, the National Heart Foundation for CPR and ECG reading, and Dr. Tanveer Ahmed, Associate Professor, National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, for burn and wound care. Additionally, Professor Dr. Md. Mustafizur Rahman, President of the Society of Endo-Laparoscopic Surgeons of Bangladesh and his team provided training on suturing, dressing, cannulation and catheterization, while representatives from the Bangladesh Global Health and Research Institute offered training on ultrasonography. All participants eagerly engaged in these activities to enhance their emergency medical skills.
The event concluded with sessions from the six standing committees of BMSS, Plenary session and an award giving ceremony. By successfully organizing such a large-scale event, BMSS reaffirmed its collective commitment to improving Bangladesh’s healthcare system.
Shahjalal Hossain Sium, Director, Sponsors and External Team, National General Assembly 2024