Chairperson’s Profile

 

Dr. Samanta Lal Sen

Minister,  Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,

Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Dr. Samanta Lal Sen, an eminent Burn and Plastic Surgeon, born on 24 November, 1949 in Nagura village of Habiganj district under Sylhet division. His father’s name is Jitendra Lal Sen who was in government service and mother’s name is Chaya Sen. He completed his secondary education in 1964 from St. Philips High School, Dinajpur and completed his higher secondary education from Surendranath College, Dinajpur. He obtained his MBBS from Chattagram Medical College in 1972. After that he pursued ‘Diploma in Plastic Surgery’ from Vienna, Austria in 1981. He took special clinical training on burn and plastic surgery from Germany and England. He has also participated in many national and international workshop/seminar/congress as speaker and invited guest. Dr. Sen started his initial carrier as medical officer in Baniachong Upazila Health Complex, Habigonj. Later, he joined the team at Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital, Dhaka led by Prof. RJ Garst who was invited to Bangladesh by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to treat the wounded freedom fighters. At that time, he also joined as a medical officer in first 05 bedded burn unit in Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital, Dhaka under direct initiative from the Father of the Nation. In 1980, he joined as Clinical Assistant, Burn and Plastic Surgery unit in Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Stepping up as Assistant Registrar, Registrar and Consultant of the Burn Unit, he was appointed as the Founder Project Director of country’s first individual 50 bedded and also 100 bedded burn unit in DMCH compound. Ensuring treatment of the ill-fated burn victims was his motto. For this, he took the initiative to establish 500 bedded Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, one of the largest institutes in South-East Asia. Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with the vision of establishing individual Burn and Plastic Surgery unit in every district appointed him as the National Coordinator in 2011. Under his direct guidance, establishing of 100-bedded Burn and Plastic Surgery Units at Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barisal, Rangpur and Faridpur are under progress. In personal life, Dr. Sen is married to Ms. Ratna Sen. Honourable Minister is a proud father of a daughter named Nabanita Sen Bakers and a son Dr. Anabeel Sen. Dr. Sen established the Acid Survivors Foundation for acid burn victims and contributed significantly to decrease incidence of acid burn across the country. He is also the pioneer in introducing Rural Health Camps for Cleft lip and palate. He successfully served as the president of society of plastic surgeons of Bangladesh for two consecutive terms. He has currently appointed as the President elect of Asia Pacific Burn Association (APBA) in 2023. Dr. Sen has been awarded many national awards for his contribution in Burn treatment and humanitarian act including prestigious Bangla Academy Award and Mother Teresa Memorial Award. Dr. Sen has devoted his whole life in development of Burn and Plastic Surgical speciality in medical services in Bangladesh.

Details: