Full-fledged dental college in Rajshahi in the offing

RAJSHAHI, Apr 15 (BSS): In the wake of long-lasting demand of local people coupled with the best uses of the newly constructed multi-storied building, a full-fledged dental college is going to be launched in Rajshahi city as early as possible.

A team from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will visit here to assess the requirement very soon, says Fazley Hossain Badsha, MP, while sharing views with some journalists at city press club here yesterday.

He also responded to some other questions regarding the issue of newly constructed building of dental unit and launching of Rajshahi-Chittagong direct railway service.

Lawmaker Badsha said the dental unit of Rajshahi Medical College (RMC) has not yet been turned into a full-fledged dental college even after construction of four-storied infrastructure and procurement of necessary instruments at a cost of Tk 100 million (10 crore) four years ago.

The newly constructed building which is supposed to be used as administrative and academic building of the dental college has also been handed over to the authorities of RMC couple of years back. But, the newly constructed building remained unused so far due to undefined reason.

According to the sources concerned, the dental unit of RMC was declared as a separate dental college by the government around 25 years ago. But, it is still continuing its activities under RMC as dental unit at the old building of the now defunct Sadar Hospital.

Even, posts of teachers and employees for a separate college have not yet been created rather the unit is being run by some teachers appointed under deputation.

Though 50 chairs are required for students, there are only 20 and nearly half of those chairs are out of order. Teachers and interns-doctors themselves bear the salary of three employees. There are only seven appointed technologists at the unit at present.