Major name changes for three prominent Medical Universities in Bangladesh

The names of three major medical universities in Bangladesh are set to change. 

The move was confirmed after a meeting of the Advisory Council held today.

The name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), located in Shahbagh, Dhaka, will be changed to Bangladesh Medical University. 

This decision comes as part of a larger plan to revise the names of medical institutions named after prominent political figures in the country.

According to a press release from the Cabinet Division, the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 has received both preliminary and final approval. 

The Health Education and Family Welfare Department is behind the ordinance, which will officially change the name of BSMMU to reflect the new title.

But that’s not all. Two other universities, named after Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, will also undergo similar name changes.

The draft ordinance titled Sheikh Hasina Medical University, Khulna (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 has also been given full approval. 

This will rename Sheikh Hasina Medical University, Khulna, to Khulna Medical University.

Additionally, the name of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Medical University, Sylhet, will also be changed. 

The proposed Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Medical University, Sylhet (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 has been approved, and the institution will now be called Sylhet Medical University.

These changes reflect a broader shift in how the country’s medical institutions are identified, aligning their names with broader, more general identifiers rather than focusing on specific political figures.