Khulna Medical University set to begin academic and research activities at Khulna Specialized Hospital campus. Photo : BSS

KHULNA, Aug 17, 2026 (BSS) - Khulna Medical University (KMU), established in 2021 following longstanding demands of the people in this region, is set to 
begin its academic, medical, research and administrative activities at Khulna Specialized Hospital as its campus.

The Health Education and Family Welfare Division issued a government order on August 12 approving the use of the specialized hospital as the university campus.

The development is expected to pave the way for launching the university's full-fledged academic and research activities and fulfilling the long-cherished demand for a medical university in the region.

Established five years ago, KMU has, so far, been operating from a rented multi-storey building in the Nirala residential area of the city.

The university currently has 36 officers and employees engaged in its administrative activities.

University sources said preparations are underway to start admission to master's programmes in January next year.

Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Dr Rafiqus Saleheen, a noted physician and robotic surgeon, told BSS that the approval to use Khulna Specialized Hospital as the university campus was a major achievement.

"It will open a new chapter in healthcare, medical education and medical research in the Khulna region," he said.

He said KMU would become the country's second medical university after Bangladesh Medical University and play a milestone role in developing the health sector of the Khulna division.

The VC said there would be no major obstacle to starting academic activities at the specialized hospital, as master's programmes would have a limited 
number of students and therefore would not require large classrooms or galleries.

"An adequate number of professors and associate professors are already posted or working on deputation at the hospital. If additional teachers are required, we will recruit them," he said.

The specialized hospital currently provides advanced treatment for heart, kidney, cancer and neurological diseases.

However, patients often face difficulties due to limited beds and inadequate allocations, particularly for ICU and CCU services and diagnostic tests.

Officials hope the university's activities will help expand quality healthcare and bring modern treatment facilities closer to people across the region.

Meanwhile, land acquisition for the first phase of the university's permanent campus project involving 100 acres is underway.

Khulna Divisional Health Department sources said, a master plan involving three projects envisages a 1,000-bed hospital, academic and administrative facilities, residential accommodation for doctors, officers and employees, a dedicated cancer hospital unit and preventive healthcare facilities.

National Parliament Whip and Khulna-3 lawmaker Rakibul Islam Bokul said the move was part of an election pledge made by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to ensure better healthcare for the people of Khulna.

"Khulna Medical University will certainly move to its own campus, but that will take time. We therefore decided not to delay academic activities and start them at the specialized hospital," he continued.

He also said plans were underway to establish a dedicated robotic surgery unit and introduce advanced services including open-heart surgery, stent placement and dialysis, while reducing treatment costs for cancer patients and making healthcare more accessible to low-income people.

Talking to BSS, Sheikh Ashrafuzzaman, President of Khulna Development Action Coordination Committee lauding the government initiative to move the KMU of 
its own campus, saying it was a long standing demand of Khulna people.

He urged the government to be taken immediate steps to begin other activities of the KMU.