RAJSHAHI, Jun 8: Even after construction of four storied infrastructure and procurement of necessary instruments at a cost of Taka 100 million four years ago, dental unit of Rajshahi Medical College has not yet been turned into a full fledged dental college.
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 years ago. But, due to undefined reason, this newly constructed building remained unused so far.
It is learnt, the dental unit of RMC was declared as a separate dental college by the government 25 years ago. But, it is still continuing its activities under RMC as dental unit at the old building of 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.
According to Rajshahi dental unit sources of RMC, in 1989 the government declared the unit as a full fledged dental college when only 20 students were studying there. The BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) course was then started under RMC but there was no room for holding classes and no required teachers and employees for giving the classes.
Under such situation, the dental unit was transferred to Sadar Hospital in 1994 and in 1995, the number of seats of students was increased to 50 from 20. But, till now, no sufficient posts for required teachers and staff have been created for running the unit smoothly. Presently, there are only 17 teachers in this unit and all of them works in deputation from various various upazila health complex. Students of the unit said, they need at least 50 teachers including permanent ones for running 9 departments of the unit. Students of the unit further complained that the laboratories of the unit run short of chemicals which they used to purchase from their own fund though those were supposed to supply free of cost from the government. They further complained, there was generator at the unit, as a result, activities of operation theatre is kept suspended during load shedding. At present, there are 250 students and a number of interns at the unit.
Obaidur Rahman Chowdhury, Associate Professor and Chief of the Dental unit said, the complete infrastructure for running a full-fledged dental college has been built years ago but no posts of teachers and staff have been created yet.
Limping Rajshahi dental college still remains attached to RMC
Our Correspondent | Published: June 09, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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