Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said universities must emphasis strong fundamental research as knowledge generated from one’s own investigation is the most effective.
“It’s like cooking your own meal as knowledge created from personal understanding and experience is the most authentic,” he said while addressing a seminar titled 'Collaborative Knowledge Communication' at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) marking World Evidence-Based Healthcare Day, 2025.
Emphasising the practice of evidence-based medicine, he said it is essential to make healthcare more adaptive and modern.
“It takes five to fifteen years for new information to be added to textbooks. So, if we only rely on book knowledge, it often becomes outdated. To keep medical systems up to date, we must constantly practice the analysis of evidence-based information,” he noted.
He added that collecting and analyzing evidence-based data daily is extremely difficult, but Artificial Intelligence (AI) can play a vital role in this process.
Conducting a systematic review may cost up to one crore taka, so small research hubs or centers should be established to conduct such studies collectively, he added.
Dr. Sayedur said discussions are underway with Oxford University to establish such a hub in Bangladesh, which, once established, would inspire not only BMU but also the entire healthcare sector of the country.
Highlighting the need to build a science-oriented society, Dr. Rahman said Bangladesh is moving toward a scientific, welfare-driven, and merit-based society.
“When talented people are respected, and research and scientific practices are encouraged, this university will play a leading role in shaping the nation,” he said.
He added that BMU will not only advance evidence-based medicine but also create new directions in various fields.
In his presidential speech, BMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Shahinul Alam said evidence-based healthcare can help reduce mortality and enhance public trust in the medical system. “It’s not enough to say, ‘I have 15 years of experience’ — everyone must be accountable,” he emphasised.
He also noted, “We can’t remain stuck in the old ways of medicine and education. The days of copy-paste learning are over — we must continuously acquire new knowledge.”
Earlier in the day, a colorful rally was organised on the BMU campus to mark World Evidence-Based Healthcare Day, joined by the vice-chancellor, faculty members, physicians, and students.