A University Central Seminar on ‘The Role of Robotics in Surgery’ was held at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) Monday, November 17, 2025, at A Block Auditorium. The seminar, organized by the Central Seminar Sub-Committee, discussed how this cutting-edge technology can provide international standard medical services to the people of the country, its advantages and disadvantages, and its application in our country. This seminar was organized in light of reality etc. Because robotic surgery is new in Bangladesh but not in the world. Moreover, experts at the seminar expressed the opinion that robotic surgery is the need of the hour if Bangladesh’s medical services are to be advanced in line with the world.
The chief guest of the seminar was the Honorable Vice Chancellor of BMU, Professor Dr. Md. Shahinul Alam. He said, introducing robotic surgery in Bangladesh is a dream. And its successful implementation is possible with the combined efforts of teachers, doctors, and students. However, before realizing this dream, we have to move forward by knowing, evaluating, and properly considering the current state of surgical services, especially the skills in surgical services. I hope that the academic leaders of the medical profession of this time will be able to introduce robotic surgery in BMU through their proper leadership.
The special guests were the Honorable Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Md. Abul Kalam Azad, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Development) Professor Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman Howlader, Treasurer Professor Dr. Nahrin Akhtar, Dean of the Faculty of Surgery Professor Dr. Md. Ibrahim Siddique. They said that in this era of technological development, there is no opportunity to avoid robotic surgery. Robotic surgery can make a great contribution to improved medical services. However, the most important thing for this is to ensure proper training. However, no matter how much better services are ensured through robots, the doctors and the concerned manpower must acquire the necessary skills and knowledge. Only then will the patients get the desired benefits from the robots.
In the seminar, BMU’s Department of General Surgery Associate Professor Dr. Mohammad Farooq Ishtiaq presented a paper on ‘Robotic Surgery: Our Perspective’ and Colorectal Surgery Assistant Professor Dr. Krishna Pad Saha presented a paper on ‘The Role of Robotics in Surgery’. They said that the advantages of robotic surgery are that the operation is completed through small incisions, complications are reduced, the patient can return to his normal life quickly, bleeding is reduced, post-operative pain is reduced, etc. The advantages for the surgeon are that it is easier to take complex surgical steps by seeing three-dimensional images at every moment, movements with the help of a robot device are easier and safer than with human hands, hand tremors can be completely avoided, the surgeon can operate for a long time while sitting in a comfortable chair, an experienced surgeon from another place can instruct the trainee surgeon to take steps or complete the surgery. The chances of the robotic device breaking or being damaged are very low, and robotic surgery is very helpful if the surgeon has any orthopedic problems, is pregnant, or is overweight. The central seminar, chaired by Professor Dr. Afzalun Nesa, Chairman of the Central Seminar Sub-Committee, was moderated by Dr. Deen Mujahid Md. Faruk Osmani. Edited: Dr. Saiful Azam Ranju.