The total number of seats in government and private medical colleges has been cut by 572 this year, despite the government's approval of a new private college with 50 seats.

According to the 2025–26 admission circular, there will be 5,100 seats across 37 government medical colleges, down from 5,380 last year.

Meanwhile, 66 private medical colleges, including the newly approved one, will offer 6,001 seats, compared to 6,293 in the previous session.

The newly approved Barrister Rafiq-ul-Huq Medical College in Dhaka has been allowed to enrol 50 students.

However, the authorities have suspended student enrolment at two private medical colleges for failing to meet required standards.

They are Bikrampur Bhuiyan Medical College in Munshiganj (57 seats) and Monowara Sikder Medical College in Shariatpur (50 seats).

Health Secretary Saidur Rahman said the ministry conducted a comprehensive assessment of all medical colleges, considering their infrastructure, teacher-student ratio, hospital facilities, and other criteria.

"Based on the assessment, the number of seats has been either increased or decreased," he told The Daily Star last night. "All the measures have been taken to ensure better medical education and ultimately improve the country's healthcare system," he added.

The decision to reduce the overall number of seats comes two years after the previous administration increased the seats by 1,030 for the 2023–24 session, a move widely criticised for being made without proper assessment despite shortages of teachers, infrastructure, and laboratory facilities.

Officials said many of those approvals were made on political grounds. After the fall of the Awami League government in August last year, the interim administration sharply criticised the earlier expansion and announced plans to rationalise seats to uphold academic standards.

Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum and Saidur Rahman, the special assistant to the chief adviser for health, had both said some substandard medical colleges would be shut down or merged with others. But the move could not be implemented due to fears of backlash and possible protests, sources said.

Online application for medical and dental admissions to start from today and both the tests will be held on December 12 simultaneously.

GOVT COLLEGES

According to official documents, the health ministry reduced a total of 355 seats across 14 government medical colleges, though new allocations elsewhere brought the net cut to 280 seats.

Twenty-five seats each were slashed at medical colleges in Dhaka, Chattogram, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Netrokona, Naogaon, Magura, Chandpur, MAG Osmani in Sylhet, Sher-e-Bangla in Barishal, and Sir Salimullah in Dhaka.

Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College lost five seats, while Habiganj Medical College saw the largest cut of 50 seats.

At the same time, the government added 75 seats across three institutions -- 25 each at Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College in Gazipur, Tangail Medical College, and Patuakhali Medical College, officials said.

PRIVATE COLLEGES

The authorities also reduced 367 seats across 12 private medical colleges, including two where enrolment has been suspended.

The other 10 private colleges facing seat cuts are Shaheed Monsur Ali Medical College Hospital, Dhaka (15 seats), Dhaka Central International Medical College (15 seats), President Abdul Hamid Medical College, Kishoreganj (45 seats), Diabetic Association Medical College, Faridpur (40 seats), City Medical College, Gazipur (30 seats), MARKS Medical College, Dhaka (20 seats), Delta Medical College, Dhaka (15 seats), Shahabuddin Medical College, Dhaka (15 seats), Dr Sirajul Islam Medical College, Dhaka (50 seats), and MH Samorita Medical College, Dhaka (15 seats).

In addition, four private medical colleges will remain barred from new admissions as before for failing to comply with the relevant regulations. They are Aichi Medical College and Northern International Medical College in Dhaka, Northern Private Medical College in Rangpur, and Shah Makhdum Medical College in Rajshahi.