Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant for Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Professor Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman. Photo: BSS

By Moshtaq Ahmed

DHAKA, Oct 22, 2025 (BSS) – Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant for Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Professor Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman today said TK 1,300 crore project has been approved for development of Pabna Mental Hospital. 

“The project has already been approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), and work will begin once the allocation is released,” he said in an exclusive interview with Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) at his office in the Health Ministry Secretariat.

Dr. Sayedur Rahman said, “The hospital known as Pabna Mental Hospital is a very old institution having vast areas. It has served a large number of people over a long period and is an outstanding facility in the country.”

He said, “Pabna Mental Hospital has a strong presence in our nation’s literature and cinema. Among health institutions in the region, it is one of the oldest and has long served a special category of patients. Mental health is a vast area that touches the psyche of our society, and we are truly delighted to have the opportunity to develop this hospital.”

Dr. Sayedur Rahman explained that after assuming office, they considered the mental health treatment of students injured during the July uprising. It was then that the development of Pabna Mental Hospital came to mind, he added.

He noted, “Although there is a national mental health institute in Dhaka and mental health departments in various medical colleges, we have felt strongly that mental health does not receive sufficient emphasis in Bangladesh’s overall healthcare system. Therefore, even outside Dhaka, we are prioritizing the development of Pabna Mental Hospital.”

He said the government has a plan to upgrade Pabna Mental Hospital to a 1,000-bed facility and establish a large mental health institute there.

Noting that hospital has 200 bighas of land, Dr. Sayedur Rahman said existing structures will remain intact, while new infrastructure will be built on the remaining land. 

“Training will take place there, and for so long, patient care has been primarily doctor-centric. Moving forward, clinical psychologists, counsellors, and other professionals necessary for comprehensive mental health care will also be included alongside doctors,” he said.

Dr. Sayedur Rahman added, “It is difficult to find such large land in Dhaka. This institution is  a heritage site, so while preserving its legacy, it will also provide comprehensive care and training for all types of personnel needed in mental health services.”

He also mentioned that the MBBS curriculum is being upgraded to world standards by strengthening the Accreditation Council. By the end of this month, a team from the World Federation for Medical Education will visit several medical colleges in Bangladesh to review the quality of medical education, he added.

Dr. Sayedur Rahman concluded, “Once the Accreditation Council is strengthened, our medical education will meet global standards. Currently, Bangladeshi doctors often have to re-qualify or complete additional courses abroad. Strengthening the council will remove this requirement.”