Meeting Held to Foster a Research Culture at BSMMU
Research Quality Must Be Improved, Not Just Quantity: Professor Dr. Shahinul Alam

On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, a significant meeting was held at the Department of Public Health and Informatics of BSMMU (Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) to foster a research culture. In the meeting, the Honorable Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Mohammad Shahinul Alam, stated that BSMMU conducts the highest number of research activities. However, merely increasing the number of research studies is not enough; the quality of research must be enhanced. There is a noticeable enthusiasm among everyone involved in research, which is highly positive and inspiring. The current administration of BSMMU is committed to ensuring all types of opportunities and facilities for research. However, it is essential to ensure that research ultimately benefits patients. In his speech, the Honorable Vice-Chancellor also expressed expectations of support from the WHO concerning the technical aspects and funding for research.

Honorable Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration), Professor Dr. Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad, stated that to ensure high-quality research, the monitoring system needs to be strengthened. Faculty members in charge of research must become more active and responsible.

Honorable Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research & Development), Professor Dr. Mohammad Mujibur Rahman Howlader, said that quality changes in research must be achieved not just through words but through actions. To fulfill this goal, a Central Research Center will be established at BSMMU. The Journal Club will be reorganized, and those responsible for research must dedicate more time to it.

Honorable Treasurer, Professor Dr. Nahrin Akhter, emphasized the need to move away from the mentality of conducting research just for the sake of thesis completion or low-effort research.

Honorable Registrar, Professor Dr. Mohammad Nazrul Islam, called for a focus on new and innovative research, warning against merely changing the format of the same research or thesis.

Professor Dr. M. A. Shakur, a member of the National Research Ethics Committee, spoke about How to Guide Theses: A Handbook for Postgraduate Thesis Supervisors. He stressed the importance of members of the IRB (Institutional Review Board) or ERC (Ethics Review Committee) giving priority to National Guidelines on Research & Ethics, International Guidelines on Research & Ethics, and Good Clinical Practice. Thesis supervisors must give more time to students to ensure the completion of high-quality research and theses.

Other notable attendees included Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Dr. Shamim Ahmed, Dean of the Faculty of Surgery, Professor Dr. Mohammad Ruhul Amin, Dean of the Faculty of Pediatrics, Professor Dr. Mohammad Atiar Rahman, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Sciences, Professor Dr. Mohammad Ali Asgar Mollah, Dean of the Faculty of Preventive and Social Medicine, Professor Dr. Mohammad Atiqul Haque, Proctor Dr. Sheikh Farhad, Editor of BSMMU Journal, Professor Dr. M. Mustafa Zaman, WHO Representative Dr. Ferdous Hakim, and the Honorable Vice-Chancellor’s Personal Secretary Dr. Mohammad Ruhul Kuddus Biplab, among others.

Editor: Dr. Saiful Azam Ronju

News, Photos & Video: Prosunto Mazumder