Sher-e-Bangla Medical College (SBMC) Barishal: Seats & Admission 2026
Sher-e-Bangla Medical College (SBMC), Barishal opened in 1968 as Barisal Medical College on the bank of the Kirtankhola river and was renamed after A. K. Fazlul Huq, the “Sher-e-Bangla”. Its hospital has grown from 250 to 1,000 beds. The college is affiliated with the University of Dhaka and admits 225 MBBS students from 2025-26.
Sher-e-Bangla Medical College is the leading medical college of the southern region and the main referral centre for the whole Barishal division. For students from the south, it is often the first choice; for others, it offers a big hospital, a riverside campus and one of the strongest debating traditions among medical colleges.
SBMC in Brief
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Foundation stone | 6 November 1964, as Barisal Medical College |
| Classes started | 1968 |
| Named after | Sher-e-Bangla A. K. Fazlul Huq, born in Barishal |
| Location | South-east Barishal city, on the Kirtankhola river |
| Campus | About 33 hectares with hostels, nursing institute and staff housing |
| Affiliation | University of Dhaka |
| Teaching hospital | Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, 1,000 beds |
| MBBS seats | 225 from the 2025-26 session |
| Dental unit | Yes, with BDS seats |
How the Hospital Grew
| Year | Beds |
|---|---|
| 1968 | 250 |
| 1975 | 500 |
| 2011–2013 | Raised to 1,000 |
SBMCH is the only specialised hospital of the Barishal division. On a typical day well over a thousand patients are admitted and thousands more visit the outpatient department. For students, this means a constant flow of real cases. Reports in the national press have also pointed out that the bed count grew faster than staff and buildings, so wards are often overcrowded — a challenge, but also a reason interns here gain confidence quickly.
Government medical college seat listSee how SBMC compares with other collegesSeats and Who Chooses SBMC
After a cut of 25 seats in 2025-26, SBMC admits 225 MBBS students. It draws a mix of high scorers from the southern districts, who want to stay near home, and candidates from other regions who rank it for its size and reputation.
| Your situation | What to think about |
|---|---|
| You are from Barishal, Patuakhali, Bhola or nearby | SBMC lets you study at a large college close to home |
| You want a strong extracurricular life | SBMC’s debating forum hosts a national inter-medical tournament |
| Travel time to Dhaka matters | The Padma Bridge has made the road trip much shorter |
Student Life by the River
The campus has a Shaheed Minar, an open-air stage, ponds and green spaces, and hostels for men and women. The SBMC Debating Forum is well known on the inter-medical circuit, and voluntary groups such as Sandhani run blood donation drives. Barishal itself is calm and affordable, famous for its rivers, launches and food.
What the Five Years Look Like
| Phase | What you do at SBMC |
|---|---|
| First and second year | Anatomy, physiology and biochemistry in the academic building, with dissection and practical classes |
| Third and fourth year | Pharmacology, pathology, microbiology, forensic medicine and community medicine, plus regular ward placements |
| Final year | Medicine, surgery and gynaecology & obstetrics, with long hours in the wards of SBMCH |
| Internship | One year of rotating duties in the hospital, often with heavy responsibility because of the patient load |
Students who adjust early to the busy hospital usually finish with strong practical skills, which helps in postgraduate exams and jobs later.
Strengths and Challenges
| Strengths | Challenges |
|---|---|
| Main referral hospital for a whole division | Overcrowded wards and staff shortages |
| Large riverside campus | Fewer postgraduate institutes than Dhaka |
| Strong debating and cultural traditions | Monsoon flooding in low-lying parts of the city |
Getting Admitted
There is no separate entrance test for SBMC. Admission comes through the national MBBS and BDS test, your merit score and the order of your college choices. Put SBMC where you genuinely want it in your list — the system always gives you the highest choice your score allows.
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Its foundation stone was laid on 6 November 1964 as Barisal Medical College, and classes began in 1968.
It is named after A. K. Fazlul Huq, known as “Sher-e-Bangla” (Tiger of Bengal), who was born in Barishal.
The hospital has 1,000 beds, up from 250 when it opened in 1968.
From the 2025-26 session Sher-e-Bangla Medical College has 225 MBBS seats.