By Morshadur Rahman

DHAKA, May 31, 2024 (BSS) - BSMMU is building global connections to produce high quality research works to supplement the efforts of the government for upgrading healthcare system to world class to ensure better treatment in the country.

"We are attaching highest priority to scaling up research activities through building collaborative efforts with international partners . . . BSMMU will be a global hub of research to improve healthcare services of the country for discoursing the people to go abroad for better treatment," BMMU VC Professor Dr. Deen Md. Nurul Haque told BSS.

In an exclusive interview, Prof Nurul, also an eminent ophthalmologist, said the BSMMU has already achieved international recognition for producing quality health journals, scientific papers and articles. "From now on, our medical journals, research papers and health-related scientific articles will get international exposure though connecting with international health development platforms," he added.

Prof Nurul said, "BSMMU is conducting research work in a large scale . . . we produce 240 research papers annually."

 The VC said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) achieved Scopus indexing status on May 19 as the Netherland-based health organization formally provided recognition through analysing and reviewing BSMMU produced research papers.

Scopus is a large, multidisciplinary database of scientific journals, books and conference proceedings. It delivers a comprehensive overview of the world's research output in the fields of science, technology, medicine, social science, and arts and humanities.

Prof Nurul dubbed the inclusion of Netherlands based Scopus as an outstanding achievement of BSMMU as well as Bangladesh.
 
The Scopus review committee approved the BSMMU journals, research papers and health articles after evaluating 14 criteria, including quality of published papers, diversity of papers, international recognition and diversity of editorial board members and other issues, the BSMMU VC added.

Like Scopus, BSMMU has intensified its massive campaign to connect global medal platforms, which will extend their assistances for further improving research work, Prof Nurul said.

"In order to publish high standard research paper, scientific medical journal and articles, WHO coast centre has been set up at BSMMU," he continued.

Explaining activities of WHO, the ophthalmologist said the World Health Organization (WHO) is a technical partner of Bangladesh government and it provides technical assistances and healthcare guidelines for strengthening healthcare system.

"The WHO is funding in different programmes of the health sector . . . they (WHO) are interested in funding to widen research works in Bangladesh," he added.
 
"After taking charge as the vice-chancellor of BSMMU, I have given my highest efforts to set up WHO coast centre at BSMMU to improve the entire process of research activities, including writing of medical article and papers," the BSMMU VC said.

"I hope that WHO hope centre will keep a valuable contribution to upgrade research work of the university, which ultimately will improve our medical sector," he said.
 
Saima Wazed, daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has become Regional Director for South-East Asia of World Health Organization (WHO), as first Bangladeshi, Prof Nurul said.
 
"It is our great achievement as she (Saima Wazed) has become regional director for South-East Asia of the WHO, " he said adding; "Saima Wazed has commitment to improve research works in the health sector of Bangladesh."

"By this time, Saima Wazed visited Bangladesh along with renowned researcher of this region Dr Manju Rani," Prof Nurul said, adding Dr Manju Rani gave training to researchers, faculty members and other medical professionals of BSMMU.

Dr Manju, an Indian citizen, made remarkable contribution to the research of the health sector.

The BSMMU has an institutional review board (IRB) that has been formally designated to approve, monitor, and review all types of researches, including biomedical and behavioral research, on human and animal, conducted by researchers of the University, Prof Nurul said.
 
Under the IRB, there is an ethical board, which will select research papers reviewing ethical side, he said, adding the IRB finally selects these research proposals after going through research protocol.

The BSMMU VC said, "We are giving grant to researchers and doctors in different disciplines of health. This year, Taka 21 crore has been given to students and teachers of BSSMU to conduct their research work."