The 31st Annual Conference, Scientific Seminar and Pre-Conference of the Bangladesh Gastroenterology Society was held Saturday, January 10, 2026, at a hotel in the capital. The annual conference and scientific seminar of the said society highlighted the breakthroughs and advances in state-of-the-art treatment in gastroenterology treatment in the country, including liver transplantation, modern treatment of pancreatic stones. It was informed at the event that breakthroughs have been taken in gastroenterology treatment in the country. Several world-class medical services, including liver transplant, are being introduced. The chief guest at the inaugural event was Honorable National Professor Dr. A. K. Azad Khan. Special guests were Honorable Chief Advisor’s Special Assistant (State Minister Rank) Professor Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman, Vice-Chancellor of BMU Professor Dr. Md. Shahinul Alam, Director General (Medical Education) of the Department of Health Professor Dr. Nazmul Hossain, Professor of the National Heart Foundation and Research Institute Dr. Fazila-Tun-Nesha Malik. Bangladesh Gastroenterology Society President Professor Dr. AQM Mohsen, Secretary General Professor Dr. Dewan Saifuddin Ahmed, members of the society and local and foreign specialist physicians were present at the event. National Professor Dr. A. K. Azad Khan, in his speech, mentioned gastroenterology-related diseases as a global problem including Bangladesh and mentioned the need to ensure improved medical services for gastroenterology-related diseases up to the marginal level including the districts and upazilas of the country and to develop the necessary skilled manpower.
BMU’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Shahinul Alam, in his speech, emphasized the importance of gastroenterology doctors and liver disease doctors collectively treating gastroenterology and liver diseases, modern treatment, accurate diagnosis, training, evidence-based treatment, clinical audit, etc. Meanwhile, on Friday, January 9, 2026, a pre-conference was held on the occasion of the 31st Annual Conference and Scientific Seminar of the Bangladesh Gastroenterology Society at a restaurant in the capital’s Military Museum Amphitheater in the evening of Bijoy Smroni. In her speech as the chief guest, Honorable Advisor to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Nurjahan Begum, said that the liver transplant program in Bangladesh must be made successful. This service must be ensured for the people of the country. The government is providing necessary assistance in this regard. Attention should be paid to ensuring that the country’s patients do not have to go abroad for medical services, including to neighboring countries. The medical community should establish the country in a place of respect and dignity in the development and advancement of medical services. India performs 5,000 and Pakistan 500 liver transplants a year. Nepal also does it. A doctor in Pakistan told me that he himself has performed 1,200 liver transplants. Currently, he performs transplants in 12 centers. If they can do it, why can’t we? We have to take initiatives, we have to keep trying. But we will succeed. We do not want to be a pawn of any country. This work has to be done. It is necessary to ensure that the people of our country do not have to go to neighboring countries for medical services. Later, a pleasant cultural evening was held there through the performance of Qawwali music.
It was announced at Saturday (January 10, 2025) inaugural ceremony that groundbreaking steps have been taken in gastroenterology treatment in the country. Several world-class medical services, including liver transplant, are being launched. Bangladesh Gastroenterology Society is going to touch a historical milestone in the country’s health sector. To ensure world-class gastroenterology services to the country’s patients, it has taken the initiative to launch several state-of-the-art medical and training programs, including liver transplantation, in the country. Patients suffering from liver cirrhosis and some other end-stage liver diseases need to undergo liver transplantation for treatment, and until now it was mandatory to go abroad for this treatment. This reality is going to change now. With the efforts of Bangladesh Gastroenterology Society and the sincerity of the Bangladesh Government, this service is going to be launched in the country on a large scale soon. The Bangladesh Government has already allocated Tk 50 crore for the infrastructure development of liver transplantation. In addition, as a result of taking initiatives to ensure modern treatment of pancreatic stones, many patients will be able to receive treatment in the country without undergoing complex pancreas surgery. Young gastroenterologists of the country have received training in endoscopic ultrasound. This international standard service is available in some private hospitals including the National Gastroliver Institute and Bangladesh Medical University. It is also possible to treat large precancerous polyps or adenomas or primary cancers located inside the digestive tract without cutting the stomach and without cutting the digestive tract. Initiatives have been taken to introduce various types of gastrointestinal vascular interventions through collaboration with interventional radiologists. ERCP is a complex type of treatment and gaining expertise in this subject is also time-consuming. ERCP simulators have been procured by the society to introduce ERCP training through simulators, giving utmost importance to patient safety.
The speakers at the inaugural ceremony also said that there are enough specialist doctors in Bangladesh, if they are regularly trained in the country and abroad on new medical methods, it is possible to revolutionize the medical system in the country. After the training, if we can create an ideal setup with modern medical technology to properly utilize their talent, and end the long process of purchasing and repairing medical equipment, the doctors will be able to apply the knowledge they have gained. If the government provides the necessary assistance in this regard, no Bangladeshi will have to go abroad for gastroenterology and liver yoga treatment.