United News of Bangladesh

The government has taken a project aimed at streamlining and strengthening the management of medical, population and nursing education services across the country. The project “Integrated Improvement in the Management of Activities of the Directorate General of Medical Education (DGME), NIPORT and the Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery (DGNM)”, undertaken by the Health Education and Family Welfare Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, involves an estimated cost of Tk 211.90 crore. It will be implemented between July 2025 and June 2026. Read more: Barishal Nursing College remains dysfunctional for 4th day According to project documents, the initiative seeks to mainstream essential activities previously carried out under the Health, Population and Nutrition Sector Programme (HPNSP), which concluded its fourth phase in June 2024. Although the sector programme played a central role in improving healthcare delivery since 1998, the ministry identified an array of structural limitations, including duplication of tasks and overlapping responsibilities across operational plans. The proposed project aims to gradually transition critical activities from the HPNSP framework into the regular institutional structure of the health education and service system, ensuring continuity through a more stable and recurring budget. The project intends to upgrade medical, nursing and midwifery education through modernised simulation laboratories in five government medical colleges, the development and customisation of ten software modules, and hands-on training programmes for faculty members in medical and dental colleges. It will also strengthen digital record management for medical students, improve online-based e-library services and enhance the Performance Management Information System (PMIS). Besides, the DGME will store and manage academic and administrative data under a unified digital platform, while the training provided through hospital management modules is expected to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency. Collaborative efforts can elevate nursing education in Bangladesh: Speakers The programme also focuses on strengthening human resource and facility management. The DGME, DGNM and NIPORT will introduce digital registries, automate hostel seat allocation and fee management, and upgrade utilities and administrative systems in education and training institutions. Alongside 3,030 units of medical and surgical equipment, 145 computers, 2,397 educational tools, 2,696 pieces of furniture and 600 bedding sets will be procured to address existing shortages. Ninety-six office equipment items will be purchased for improving workplace conditions. NIPORT will implement a large portion of the training component. The organisation is expected to deliver 600 batches of training, involving 15,000 participants across its 35 institutions, while the DGNM will conduct 320 batches for an additional 9,600 nurses and midwives. The NIPORT will also update three training curricula, complete twelve unfinished studies under the fourth sector programme, and carry out two major national surveys: the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) and the Bangladesh Health Facility Survey (BHFS). These data-driven activities are considered essential for evidence-based policy-making in health, population and nutrition planningsaid officials. Bangladesh Medical Education Accreditation Bill, 2023 passed in JS Officials said the selection of project areas has been based on the administrative and operational jurisdictions of the three implementing agencies. DGME activities will cover all government medical and dental colleges, IHTs and MATS institutions across all divisions. NIPORT’s coverage includes its headquarters in Dhaka, fourteen Regional Population Training Institutes located at the district level, and twenty-one Regional Training Centres at the upazila level. Nursing and midwifery institutions, as well as government hospitals with nursing staff across the country, fall under the DGNM component. A pre-appraisal assessment reviewed the activities and expenditures of the three directorates under the previous operational plans and incorporated technical estimates verified by the Technical Specification Committee. The Project Evaluation Committee (PEC), in its meeting held on 8 September 2025, recommended approval of the proposal subject to compliance with its observations. The ministry has agreed to restructure the Development Project Proposal (DPP) accordingly. The Planning Commission said the project will significantly contribute to improving medical, nursing and midwifery education while enhancing family planning services. NIANER hosts seminar on innovations in nursing education and practice It added that the project aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 3, the Bangladesh Population Policy 2025 and the broader objectives of the Health Education and Family Welfare Division to ensure quality health education and affordable, high-standard family planning services for all. Officials believe that once implemented, the project will help modernise competency-based clinical education, improve institutional transparency, support digital transformation across training facilities and contribute to strengthened health service delivery nationwide.

The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday okayed the first revision of the 4th Health, Population and Nutrition Sector Programme  (4th HPNSP) raising its cost by Tk 30,448.62 crore and extending the project deadline by one year till June 2023. Ecnec approved a total of 11 development projects with the overall estimate cost of Tk 37,507 crore (counting only additional costs of four revised projects). Read: Ecnec approves Tk 1803-cr project to fight flood, riverbank erosion The approval came from the virtual Ecnec meeting, which was presided over by Encec chair and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from her official residence Ganobhaban. The other ministers and officials concerned were connected with the meeting from the NEC conference room. “Today’s meeting approved 11 projects -- seven fresh and four revised ones— and the total estimated cost of Tk 37,507.22 crore,” said Planning Minister MA Mannan while briefing reporters after the meeting. Of the cost, Tk 36,023.91 crore will be drawn from government funds, while Tk 33.33 crore from Dhaka South City Corporation’s fund and the rest Tk 1,449.98 crore will come from foreign sources as project loans, he said. According to the Planning Commission, the cost of the 4th HPNSP has now increased to Tk 145,934.99 crore from Tk 115,486.36 crore from the original layout. Among the new seven projects, the largest one is ‘Construction of Primary Infrastructures for Sheikh Hasina Institute of Frontier Technology Project’ involving Tk 1503.32 crore, which will be implemented in Shibchar in Madaripur. Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority under ICT Division will execute the project by December 2026 in order to develop the country’s first frontier technology-based specialised institute. The major project operations include acquisition and development of 70.34 acres of land, providing higher trainings on different essential matters including IOT, big data or data science, forensic or cyber security, machine learning, block chain and chip design, construction of 7,742-sq metre administrative Bhaban, 43,287-sq metre research development Bhaban and also Business Centre, and 9,760-sq metre dormitory and 8,800-sq metre football ground with gallery. The six other fresh projects include ‘Infrastructural Development of Mongla Commander Flotilla West (Comflot West)’ with estimated cost of Tk 699.94 crore; ‘Integrated Sanitation and Hygiene (Integrated Solid and Human Waste Management) in 10 Priority Cities of Bangladesh’ with Tk 559.68 crore; and ‘Waste Removal and Management in Dhaka South City Corporation Affiliated Area, Collection of Modern Vehicles used for Road Repairs and Easing traffic congestion through installation of Mechanized Parking’ with Tk 333.32 crore. Read: Turning Bangladesh into digital economy: Ecnec clears Tk 2,542 cr project The remaining new projects are ‘Modernisation of Chattogram, Cumilla and Mymensingh (Trishal) Military Farms’ with the cost of Tk 263.83 crore; ‘Smart Agriculture Card and Digital Agriculture (Pilot)’ with Tk 107.92 crore; and ‘Construction of Hostels/Dormitories for Doctors, Officers, Senior Staff Nurses and Trainees working at Azimpur Maternal and Child Health Training Institute, Dhaka’ with Tk 64.34 crore. Three other revised projects approved in the meeting are Upgradation of Ashuganj River Port-Sarail-Dharkhar-Akhaura Land Port Highway to four lanes National Highway (1st revised) with Tk 5,791.60 crore (which was Tk 3,567.85 crore in the original project);  Important Rural Infrastructure Development of Gopalganj District (2nd revised) with Tk 1,827.80 crore (Tk 1,123 crore in 1st revision and Tk 614.84 crore in original one); and Upgrading of Dhaka Water Supply Network (1st revised) with Tk 3,780 crore (Tk 3,182.30 crore in the original project).