CVASU in Vanguard of Veterinary Education in Bangladesh

Professor Md. Ahasanul Hoque (Rukan)

Veterinary education (animal treatment and management) is crucial for Bangladesh’s agriculture-driven economy. As the country’s population continues to grow, both the number of livestock and pet ownerships are also rising steadily. And the increasing number of livestock will certainly require huge support from skilled veterinarians. In this respect, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU) has been playing a significant role by producing qualified veterinarians to offer the required services to the people.

Immediately after the establishment of Chattogram Government Veterinary College in 1996, a small-scale veterinary hospital was launched adjacent to the college in 1998, under the Medicine and Surgery department, so that the college could offer hands-on practical education to the students regarding animal health, treatment and management. In 2002, it officially began operations as Shahedul Alam (S.A.) Qaderi Teaching Veterinary Hospital. From 2007 onwards, it expanded its advanced facilities and started animal treatment services independently. From its humble beginnings under a small tin shed, the hospital has evolved into a modern university thanks to its faculty’s dedication.  Here, students receive hands-on education in the treatment and care of a wide range of animals, including livestock such as cattle, goats, buffaloes, and horses; companion animals like dogs, cats, rabbits, turtles, and pet birds; as well as poultry and selected wild species. In addition to medical management, they are also trained in essential surgical procedures, disease diagnosis, and therapeutic practices.

 There is no alternative to enhancing field-level expertise for preparing the next generation of veterinary professionals. In this mission, the university hospital plays a pivotal role by serving a dual purpose by advancing student skills while delivering essential services to animal owners. Despite being located in Chattogram city, the hospital treats an average of 60 to 70 animals daily, not only from the metropolitan area but also from nearby districts across the region. Meanwhile, the university’s students work alongside the teachers to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment of complex cases, gaining valuable experience in a hospital setting.

Following the S.A. Quaderi Teaching Veterinary Hospital in Chattogram, CVASU established its second facility—the Teaching and Training Pet Hospital and Research Centre (Dhaka Pet Hospital) in Purbachal, Dhaka, a specialised hospital dedicated to companion animals. Founded in 2018, this hospital serves as a hub for training veterinarians and conducting research while it treats an average of 40-50 pet animals daily. Both hospitals are equipped with advanced medical equipment, including X-ray, ultrasonography, gaseous anaesthesia, endoscopy, dental care, and ophthalmic treatment facilities.

Students of the university’s Veterinary Medicine Faculty begin hospital visits from their first year as part of various courses. Starting from the third year, they actively participate in regular clinical activities at the hospital alongside their other academic courses. At the outset, the Medicine and Surgery department presents students with a ‘kit box’ to trigger their interests and ensure their health protection by administering the pre-exposure rabies vaccine. From the fifth year, students undergo hands-on clinical training at the two hospitals for varying durations as a part of their 1-year internship. In addition to CVASU, intern students from nearly 10 veterinary institutes across Bangladesh come to these hospitals for gaining practical experience.

Since the Dhaka Pet Hospital opened in 2018, about 15 students from Putra University in Malaysia have completed three-day clinical rotations there. Veterinary experts and faculty members from Madras Veterinary College in India and the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine of Tufts University in the United States have, on several occasions, conducted specialised training sessions at CVASU’s two hospitals.

As its third hospital, CVASU launched a new Teaching Veterinary Hospital on the Hathazari campus in 2024, with a special focus on treatments of livestock.

On 18 May 2024, a newly established “Simulated Clinical Skills Lab” was officially launched on the same campus. This lab is based on hands-on simulation and training in 36 essential clinical skills—identified through a collaborative research project between the University of Bristol and CVASU in 2019. A similar lab has also been planned (to be introduced at the Dhaka Pet Hospital) to foster competitive professional skills among students, such as knowledge sharing and adaptability.

Moreover, CVASU has taken the initiative to establish a specialised hospital for wildlife healthcare at its Cox’s Bazar campus to enhance student competencies in wildlife treatment. In addition, several strategic measures are required to further strengthen hospital operations. These include delivering education and research services through virtual connectivity, improving hospital waste management systems, and formulating a unified regulatory framework to manage these four veterinary hospitals under an integrated legal structure.

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The writer is Director, One Health Institute, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University