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Mymensingh Medical College today welcomes back to their campus Bhutan's Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering, who was a student here nearly 20 years ago. 

The campus was adorned with celebratory elements to welcome the premier.

Tshering was admitted to the college in 1991, college sources said.

The premier will lead a 14-member delegation including Bhutan's Minister for Foreign Affairs Tandi Dorji, who was also a student of MMC's 24th batch, said Prof Dr Anwar Hossain, principal of MMC.

He will attend a programme at the MMC auditorium as chief guest and later visit the classrooms where he attended his classes. He will also be meeting his classmates at MMC Gallery-2. He will then visit the college canteen, doctors club and Ward No-6 of MMCH where he took an eight-months long training on surgery.

Dr Mohammad Asaduzzaman Ratan, assistant professor of the Nephrology Department in MMC and one of Tshering's classmates, said their joys knew no bound when their classmate had been elected the prime minister.

“Boishakh celebrations for the MMC students and teachers will have extra flavours of joy following Tshering's visit,” said Ratan.

Reminiscing old memories, Ratan said Tshering had dressed up as a king on the college's “Rag Day” in 1999 and now he is the prime minister.

Dr Md Shafikul Bari Tuhin, a friend of Tshering, said he was very attentive and hardworking regarding his studies. Tshering secured first position in final professional exams.

He was also good in sports -- table tennis, badminton and football. On various occasions, he won prizes in inter-batch athletic competitions.

“We were the champion of inter-medical college football tournament in 1995 and Tshering was one of the players in a forward position,” said Tuhin, an assistant professor of Pediatric Surgery Department at MMC.

“He was very amicable and we used to travel to Mymensingh city for tea and snacks. I accompanied him on various occasions to visit Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU),” Tuhin, who is still in touch with Tshering, said.

Tshering used to stay at a new building of Baghmara Medical Hostel with other foreign students and we were very close, he added.

He was interested in surgery and took training under Prof Dr Khademul Islam, the then head of Surgery Department of MMCH, said Tuhin.

When Dr Khademul was transferred to Sir Salimullah Medical College in Dhaka, Tshering also left Mymensingh with Dr Khademul in 2000. Tshering left Bangladesh in 2003 after completing his FCPS in Surgery, he said.

The students of MMC are also in celebratory mood. “We will celebrate the Pahela Boishakh with unlimited joy,” said Arifur Rahman, a final year student.

Strict security measures were taken for the visit of Bhutan's Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering, said Shah Abid Hossain, Superintendent of Police, Mymensingh.