The country’s first state-of-the-art Robotic Rehabilitation Center was inaugurated at the Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) Super Specialized Hospital on Sunday, August 31, 2025, to provide state-of-the-art medical services to patients with long-term neurological diseases and paralysis. On this occasion, a program was organized at the auditorium (Lecture Hall-Room No. 507) of the Super Specialized Hospital. Honorable Advisor to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Mr. Nurjahan Begum, was present as the chief guest. Special guests were Special Assistant to the Honorable Chief Advisor (State Minister Rank) Professor Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman, Honorable Ambassador of China to Bangladesh Mr. Yao Wen, Honorable Secretary of the Service Department of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Mr. Md. Saidur Rahman. The program was presided over by Honorable Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh Medical University, Professor Dr. Md. Shahinul Alam. The program was moderated by BMU Registrar Professor Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam and Assistant Proctor Dr. Rifat Rahman, and the program was attended by Honorable Director General of the Directorate of Health, Professor Dr. Md. Abu Zafar, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) of BMU and Chairman of the Rehabilitation Center Implementation Committee, Professor Dr. Md. Abul Kalam Azad, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Development) Professor Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman Howlader, Treasurer Professor Dr. Nahrin Akhtar, and others. The chief guest, Honorable Health Advisor Mr. Nurjahan Begum, presented certificates to the doctors and physiotherapists participating in the training program on robotic rehabilitation. At the beginning of the program, the Honorable Health Advisor inspected and inaugurated the country’s first state-of-the-art Robotic Rehabilitation Center established in the basement of the Super Specialized Hospital. Through the inauguration of this robotic center, the Honorable Health Advisor is opening the door to new possibilities for medical services for the disabled and paralyzed people of Bangladesh.
After the inauguration of the Robotic Rehabilitation Center, in the speech of the chief guest at the program organized at the lecture hall of the Super Specialized Hospital, Honorable Advisor Nurjahan Begum said, the Robotic Rehabilitation Center established at Bangladesh Medical University must be sustainable and this center needs to be decentralized as much as possible. Especially, care should be taken to spread it to three-four more districts. Bangladesh Medical University is a big hospital. We see the potential for something big to happen here. The services here will spread across the country. Dreams come true only when people dream. In her speech, the Honorable Health Advisor expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for its support in establishing the Robotic Rehabilitation Center and said, “When we visited the hospital after taking charge, we saw that many people had no arms or legs. Many people had useless arms and legs. Then I thought about their improved treatment. I told China that if they could give us 10-15 robots; we could run the medical program.” But China has provided 57 robots. In addition, Chinese representatives have trained 29 of our people. I said that we need to train our people for the maintenance capabilities of the robots. This center must be made sustainable. In his speech, he expressed gratitude to all those involved in China in setting up the rehabilitation center.
In his speech as a special guest, the Honorable Ambassador of China, Mr. Yao Wen, Honorable Chief Advisor of Bangladesh Dr. Muhammad Yunus expressed gratitude to the Chief Advisor for visiting China and said that China, as a friendly country, has been supporting the development of Bangladesh. The Chinese government will provide all kinds of assistance for the development of the health sector. As a friendly country, Bangladesh is cooperating in the medical sector. China has provided international standard equipment for the establishment of the Robotic Rehabilitation Center. China will continue to support Bangladesh by extending its hand of cooperation in the future. Recently, China has provided prompt assistance to the injured admitted to the Burn Institute, especially those injured in the plane crash at Milestone School and College. It has taken measures to ensure that Bangladeshis in China receive advanced medical services at low cost. At the same time, it has continued to support the development of the healthcare sector in Bangladesh.
In his speech as a special guest, Special Assistant to the Honorable Chief Advisor (State Minister rank), Professor Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman said, “Bangladesh Medical University will become a hub for transferring or bringing the latest technology to the medical sector of Bangladesh. It is our expectation that the world’s latest technologies will spread to the medical sector throughout the country from here.”
In his speech, Honorable Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh Medical University Professor Dr. Md. Shahinul Alam said, today is a historic day for Bangladesh Medical University. AI-based medical services have started in the country with the inauguration of the Robotic Rehabilitation Center. This center will be developed as a training of the trainers. Through whom this service will spread everywhere. BMU will be developed as a smart and AI-based medical institution. In his speech, the Honorable Vice Chancellor highlighted the steps taken by the university in various areas including evidence-based medicine, medical audit, infection control system, emergency medicine, geriatric medicine, automation, e-log book, introduction of radiotherapy in evening shift, kidney and liver transplantation, and increasing communication skills.
Chairman of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Head of the Robotic Rehabilitation Center, Professor Dr. Md. Abdus Shakur said, “There are hardly any robotic rehabilitation centers in South Asia. This center has 57 robots. Out of these, 22 are AI-based robots. Through this, it will be possible to provide various medical services including physiotherapy with precision. A 7-member Chinese biomedical expert team has already trained 29 local doctors and physiotherapists to run this center. Those injured in the July student uprising, especially those who need long-term treatment, are receiving treatment here. They are being provided with this robotic medical service free of charge. Later, this medical service program will be opened to general patients as well. The cost of the service will be kept within the patients’ means.
He further said that this center has been established with the technical assistance of China following the technology used in the developed world. The Chinese government has provided state-of-the-art robotic equipment worth about 30 crore taka to this center, which has made this center one of the most modern robotic rehabilitation centers in South Asia. The launch of this robotic rehabilitation center has begun a new chapter in the country’s medical sector. This is not only an advancement in technology, but also a ray of hope in the lives of countless people suffering from paralysis and neurological problems. With the launch of the center, all the (relevant patients) who go abroad for advanced treatment will be able to get treatment here in the future, which will save a lot of foreign exchange for the country.
The important event was attended by the Honorable Dean of the Faculty of Basic Science and Paraclinical Science of Bangladesh Medical University, Professor Dr. Saif Ullah Munshi, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Dr. Md. Shamim Ahmed, Dean of the Faculty of Surgery, Professor Dr. Md. Ibrahim Siddique, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Medicine, Associate Professor Dr. Sakhawat Hossain, Director (Hospital) Brigadier General Abu Noman Mohammad Mosleh Uddin, Director (Planning and Development) Dr. Erfanul Haque Siddique, Chief Estate Officer Dr. Md. Ehteshamul Haque Tuhin, Director (Finance and Accounts) Khandaker Shafiqul Hasan Ratan, Additional Director of Super Specialized Hospital Dr. Md. Shahidul Hasan Babul, Deputy Director (Hospital) Dr. Mohammad Abu Naser, Deputy Director (Super Specialized Hospital) Dr. AK Al Miraj, Assistant Proctor Dr. Shahriar Shams Laskar, Assistant Proctor Dr. Rifat Rahman, senior officials of the Ministry of Health, deans of Bangladesh Medical University, departmental chairmen, office heads, teachers, physicians, and residents of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department were present.