BMSS event brings together hundreds of medical students, young professionals

The Bangladesh Medical Students’ Society (BMSS) organised its flagship National General Assembly 2026 (NGA’26) at North South University (NSU) in the capital on Friday, bringing together more than 800 medical students and young healthcare professionals from across the country.

Held under the theme “One Pledge, One Bond: Doctor’s Rights Above All,” the day-long assembly brought together participants from more than 90 local committees for discussions on medical education, public health, clinical learning, research, career development and leadership.

The opening ceremony was attended by National Professor AK Azad Khan, head of the Health Reform Commission and president of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (BADAS), among others.

Other guests included Dr Susan Vize, head of office and UNESCO representative to Bangladesh; Prof Dr Shamim Ahmed, dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) and treasurer of the Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC); Prof Dr Fawzia Hossain, chair of RGOC IRC and life member of the Bangladesh Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (BDSCCP) and Prof Dr Md Abdul Awal, principal of Dhaka Dental College.

Representatives from the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors, international medical organisations and BMSS were also present at the programme.

The event began with the BMSS Buzz Revealing Ceremony, followed by the Standing Committee and Supporting Division Activity Fair, showcasing initiatives undertaken by BMSS throughout the year.

The assembly also featured the Local Committee (LC) Fair, Clinical Case Report and Research Abstract Presentations, allowing participants to showcase local activities, clinical learning and student-led research.

One of the major attractions of NGA’26 was a series of thematic sessions and external panel discussions focusing on six areas: medical and dental education, recurring epidemics, reproductive health and rights, disaster management, public health research, and women’s health, rights and safety.

The sessions included “From Theory to Practice: Rethinking Medical and Dental Education,” “Outbreak on Repeat: Measles, Dengue & the Fight Against Recurring Epidemics”, “Reproductive Health and Rights for All ”, “Resilience Beyond Borders: Disaster Management in Urban & Refugee Settings”, “Beyond the Numbers: Research as a Catalyst for Better Public Health” and “Beyond Survival: Advancing Women’s Health, Rights and Safety.”

Parallel clinical and career development sessions were also held, covering acute cardiac emergencies, drowning management, ATLS-based trauma care, modern diabetes care and obstetric emergencies.

Participants took part in hands-on suturing and dentistry sessions, providing practical exposure alongside the theoretical discussions.

A dedicated career session titled “Mapping the White Coat: Exploring Career Pathways Across Clinical Practice, Research, Academia & Global Medicine” highlighted professional opportunities in clinical practice, research, academia and global medicine.

The programme also included an NSU Public Health Session and a plenary discussion focusing on healthcare, public health and professional development.

The closing ceremony was attended by Md Azizul Haque, secretary general of Alzheimer’s Society Bangladesh; Dr Quazi Ahmed Zaki, director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR); Dr Saima Khan, former country director of UNAIDS and adviser to BMSS; Prof Dr Abu Jamil Faisel, adviser to BMSS and adjunct faculty at the Department of Public Health, State University of Bangladesh; Prof Mazharul Islam, director of planning at the Directorate General of Medical Education and Prof Dr Md Nasir Uddin, director of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.

Prof Dr Halida Hanum Akhter, senior faculty at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and chairperson of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, attended as a special guest, while Prof Dr Firoza Begum, president of the Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Bangladesh (OGSB), was the guest of honour.

The event concluded with a closing and award ceremony recognising outstanding contributions and achievements within the BMSS community.

The organisers said NGA’26 sought to create a national platform where future healthcare professionals could connect with experts, exchange ideas and engage with pressing issues in medicine and public health.

The assembly also reaffirmed BMSS’s commitment to developing healthcare professionals equipped with clinical skills, research capacity, leadership qualities and a broader understanding of public health.