BNP leader Rafiqul Islam completes robotic surgery training in China

BNP’s Health Affairs Secretary Dr Md Rafiqul Islam has completed a week-long advanced training on robotic surgery at Pudong Gongli University, Shanghai, China.

The training ended Saturday, and afterwards, the Chinese university sent Rafiqul’s certificate to Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), where he is a professor of urology.

Recently, BMU hosted a special event where Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr FM Siddiqui formally handed over the certificate to the BNP leader.

At the event, Prof Dr Md Rafiqul Islam thanked the university authorities for facilitating his training and organising the certificate handover. He said he hoped to apply the experience gained abroad to improve medical education and advanced surgical care in Bangladesh.

In brief remarks, Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr FM Siddiqui said adopting and effectively using new technologies was essential for keeping pace with advances in modern medicine.

He said robotic surgery had opened new possibilities in surgical care, allowing procedures to be performed with greater precision and accuracy. Bangladesh must modernize its healthcare system and develop the skilled workforce needed to operate advanced medical technologies, he added.

Siddiqui said the introduction of robotic surgery in Bangladesh marked an important milestone, but access to advanced equipment must be matched by international-standard training, practical experience and exposure to global medical practices. He said the overseas training of experienced physicians such as Prof Dr Md Rafiqul Islam could contribute to that effort.

He said Bangladesh Medical University aimed to strengthen its position internationally in medical education, research and technology, alongside healthcare delivery. Greater international cooperation, including training and knowledge exchange with China’s Pudong Gongli Hospital, could help advance medical education and robotic surgery in both countries.

He also stressed that the benefits of advanced medical technology should extend beyond a limited section of the population and be accessible to the wider public. Investment in skilled professionals, research, effective technology use and international partnerships would be key to expanding robotic surgery in Bangladesh.