The university originated from the Institute of Postgraduate Medicine and Research (IPGMR), which was founded in December 1965 as a government-run center dedicated to postgraduate medical education and research. Initially, the institute was located in the former Hotel Shahbag, once the largest hotel in Dhaka and named after the Shahbagh area where it stood.
From 2010 onward, several prominent medical and public health institutions became affiliated with IPGMR, including BIRDEM, BIHS, Dhaka Medical College (DMC), Sir Salimullah Medical College (SSMC), the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), and the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR).
The institution was officially renamed under Act No. 1 of 1998 passed by the Jatiyo Sangshad (National Parliament). Following political changes in Bangladesh, and after the fall of the Awami League government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Government of Bangladesh issued an ordinance on April 13, 2025, formally renaming the institution as Bangladesh Medical University.
Campus:
The Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) campus comprises five multi-story buildings that accommodate academic facilities, medical services, and residential areas. In addition to the main campus, the Graduate Nursing campus is situated at Poribagh in the Shahbag area of Dhaka.
Faculties and Departments:
BMU is organized into eight faculties: Medicine, Surgery, Basic Sciences and Para-Clinical Sciences, Dentistry, Paediatrics, Medical Technology, Nursing, and Preventive and Social Medicine. Through these faculties, the university offers a wide range of academic programs, including MD, MS, M.Phil., M.MEd, BSN, MSN, Diploma courses, MPH, and PhD degrees.
