Dhaka Medical College and Hospital

Dhaka Medical College and Hospital
File:Dmc logo1.jpg
Established	1946
Type	Public
Admin. staff	3,406
Students	1,050
Location	Dhaka, Bangladesh
Campus	Urban, 25 acres (0.101 km²)

Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), established in 1946 during the British colonial rule, is a medical college in Bangladesh. Situated at the heart of the city in the academic zone along with University of Dhaka and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.

Hospital Building

Dhaka Medical College claims to have played a pioneering role in the development of medical science, health care delivery and in nation building activities of the country.

History

Though the college did not have a building of its own at the beginning, the present hospital building was there from long ago, even before the Partition of Bengal of 1905. It was established in 1904 as the secretariat of the newly formed province East Bengal and Assam. Not doctors, but bureaucrats used to roam about in its busy corridors then!

In 1921, when University of Dhaka began its journey, the building was handed over to the University administration. At that time, a part of this huge building was used as the University's Medical Center, another part as students' dormitory and the rest as the administrative wing of the Arts faculty. During the World War II it changed its color yet again, when it became the American Base Hospital. At the end of the war the Americans left, but the hospital remained. Through the course of time, the 100-bed hospital of that time is Bangladesh's largest hospital today.

In 1939, Dhaka University Council requested to the then British Government to establish a medical college in Dhaka. But the proposal was postponed due to second world war. After the war, Dhaka Medical College was established. In 1946, students were admitted in all years. The 1st year was named K-5, 2nd year K-4, 3rd year K-3, 4th year K-2, and 5th year K-1. All the students except K-5 had migrated from Calcutta Medical College. The main reason behind it was the partition of 1947. Though about half of the present students are females, there used to be none at the beginning. Academic class started on 10 July which is celebrated as "DMC DAY".

Major W J Virjin

Major W J Virgin, the head of the committee formed before establishing Dhaka Medical College, was the first principal. At the beginning had only four departments - Medical, Surgery, Gynaecology and ENT. Since the college did not have Anatomy and Physiology departments at first, the students had their classes in Mitford Medical School. After a month, Prof. Pashupati Basu of Anatomy and Prof Hiralal Saha of Physiology joined the staff and the classes began in ward no. 22 of the hospital. There was no lecture gallery or dissection hall at that time. These needs were met after the foundation of the college building in 1955. The institute did not have any hostel for students. Male students were allowed to reside in Dhaka University's student halls, but girls had to attend classes from their homes. The college and hospital premises were expanded in new temporary sheds, some of which were built for outdoor services of the hospital and some others for students' hostels. New buildings for hostel, college and hospital were constructed in phases: a hostel for girls in 1952, a hostel for male students in 1954-55, a new complex of academic buildings in 1955, and a hostel for internee doctors in 1974-75.A new academic building and also a new hospital building (DMCH-2) are under construction.

As University

During a meeting between Prime Minister and Dhaka Medical College administration, proposal to upgrade the level from medical college into a medical university was raised and prime minister accepted it. Required process is ongoing since then though it is receiving criticism from a group of present and former students.

Alleged Facts

Every year,after passing HSC nearly 36000 (Thirty Six thousand) top applicants from all over the country sit for medical college entrance examination. Top 200 students out of 36000 get opportunity to study in Dhaka Medical College. Different batches of Dhaka Medical College are named with the prefix K, as for example batch K-69 which is the latest batch in DMC arena. The origin of the prefix K is not well known and there are different opinions such as K being the 11th letter of the English alphabet signifies the 11th medical college of the-then Indian subcontinent, K is for Kolkata as many of the students came from Calcutta Medical college and were admitted straight to 3rd, 4th or even 5th year.Another source indicates that K stands for Klinical batch (Latin). Whatever the meaning is, at this moment 'K' is the identity of almost 10,000 ex and present students of DMC There is another tradition to name batches such as Batch k-67 is known as Lubdhok ( লুব্ধক), k-66 Shongkhonil (শঙ্খনীল), k-65 Kolpok (কল্পক) , k64 Jatrik (যাত্রিক), k63 Turup (তুরুপ), k-62 Baundule(বাউণ্ডুলে).^{[citation needed]}

Principals

Professor Quazi Deen Mohammad

Notable Principals

Serial	Name	Period
1.	Dr. Major W J Virjin	01.07.46 - 14.08.47
2.	Dr. Colonel E G Montgomery	15.08.47 - 19.07.48
3.	Professor T Ahmed	19.07.48 - 01.01.52
4.	Dr. Colonel A K Afridi	01.01.50 - 20.03.53
5.	Professor Nowab Ali	21.03.53 - 10.04.54
6.	Professor A K M A Wahed	11.04.54 - 20.01.55
7.	Professor Nowab Ali	21.01.55 - 01.02.57
38.	Professor Quazi Deen Mohammad	27.01.08 -

Role in National History

DMC was involved in all the national movements of Bangladesh. Dhaka Medical College dormitory (known as Barrack) was the heart of the language movement from 1948 to 1952. The Barrack was situated at the same place the Central Shaheed Minar is right now. There was about 20 tin shed barracks where the medical students resided. Being close to the then Parliament of East Pakistan (presently Jagannath Hall of DU), the medical dormitory was chosen as the centre of the student movement due to strategic reasons.

File:Language movement.jpg

Language Movement'1952 Dhaka Medical College Gate

From early hours of February 21, 1952 all the students of Dhaka started to gather in front of medical college dormitory. The procession was headed for the parliament as the session was being held. As section 144 was imposed and armed police force was on guard, no procession whatsoever was possible. But the courageous students decided to break section 144 at 4:00 PM from the historical “Aam-tola” (which was situated beside the present day Emergency gate). The police fired at the procession without any mercy. Salam, Barkat, Rafique, Jabbar and Shafiur died a tragic death.

After sundown February 21, at the very spot flooded by the martyrs' blood, the students of Dhaka Medical College decided to build a monument. They worked overnight on February 22 and 23 and finished the construction, using the bricks, gravel and cement reserved for the hospital.

The students of DMC played a vital role in the student and mainstream politics of the 60's as well. When the military government of Ayub Khan started torturing the political leaders, the central student leaders took refuge in the Bakshibazar students' dormitory. Most of the meetings deciding the upcoming line of action were held in the college campus. During the movement protesting the martial law and the Hamidur Rahman Education Commission, DMC and its dormitory were not only a safe refuge for the student leaders, many students of this institution also had active participation in it.

On January 20, 1969 police fired and charged on the procession of students near the present emergency gate and student leader Asaduzzaman was severely injured. He was admitted in the hospital but breathed his last in ward no. 8 before any treatment was possible. The students of the medical colleges led a procession with the blood stained shirt of Shaheed Asad. Shortly after the students of Dhaka University had raised the flag of independent Bangladesh in the “Bot tala” of DU on March 2, 1971, the doctors of DMCH raised it at the peak of present Doctors' Cafeteria. Dhaka Medical College had also made its mark in the mass uprising of 90's. The doctors actively participated in the movement protesting the anti people health policy of the government of that time under the banner of BMA.

Liberation War, 1971

Students, nurse, staffs and doctors who had passed from DMC played a major role in the war of our independence. Many of them were engaged in the battlefield, while others treated the injured freedom fighters in the hospital risking their lives. Almost all the doctors working at DMCH used to help the injured freedom fighters by admitting them under false names. All of this coordinated by Dr. Fazle Rabbi. Moazzem Hossain, Selim ahmed, Ali Hafiz Selim, Abu Yusuf Mia, Iqbal Ahmed faruq, Muzibul Haque, Mostafa Jalal Mahiuddin, Mozaffar, amzad Hossain, Wali, Osman, Golam Kabir, Zillur Rahim, Dalu, Nurujjuman, Shahadat and many more students took part in the war as liberation fighter. Many of them fought in the Dhaka city.

Facilities and Achievements

Dhaka Medical College has two museums. Also, the National Forensic DNA Profiling laboratory is the first of its kind in Bangladesh. This laboratory is to assist the investigation concerning murder, rape, paternity, maternity, immigration, distribution of wealth among successors, deformed dead bodies and other cases needing identification.

Shahjahan Hafiz, a student in the fifties was a leading Rabindra songs artist in the then East Pakistan Radio. The notable alumni of DMC includes current Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, current Health Minister Professor Dr Ruhul Huq, Health Advisor to the Prime Minister Dr. Syed Modasser Ali, former President of Bangladesh Dr. A.Q.M. Badruddoza and many other distinguished personalities.

DMC became champions and runners up in Debate Competition organized by Bangladesh television more than once; came third in `Gyan Jiggasa` in 1985 and Champions in 1987 - a national general knowledge competition of Bangladesh Television. Dhaka Medical College has many voluntary organizations namely Computer Club Of Dhaka Medical College, Debating Club of DMC, Rotaract Club, Medicine Club etc.

Dhaka Medical College Football team won the ``Tarubala shield in 1947 organiged by district sports` association: the team captained by Mirza Mazharul Islam beat renowned clubs like Wari on its way to title. Athletics Secretary of first DMCSU (1949–50) was Mazharul Islam Damal who expressed his sporting ability by creating a Bang as the opening batsman of Pakistan `A` cricket team. Dhaka Medical College Cricket team achieved the pride of becoming the Dhaka division champion in 1962-63 season.^{[citation needed]}

Clubs & Associations

• Sondhani, DMC branch
• DMC Computer Club
• Ex-Cadets' Association of DMC (ECADMC)

Sandhani

Every year Sandhani collects on an average 40,000 bags of blood.

Dhaka Medical College Alumni Trust

Dhaka Medical College Alumni Trust was formed in 1989. Late principal & Professor Wali Ullah was the founder President. The Alumni Trust organised a Reunion and 63rd Dhaka Medical College Day on 10 July with the leadership of Health Minister Prof. AFM Ruhal Haque, MP, accompanied by Prof Mudassar Hossain, Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, MP, Prof Nazmun Nahar, Prof. Dr Iqbal Arslan and Chowdhury Jamal Uddin. Hon'ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was the Chief Guest on the occasion.

External links

• Official website