Historical Background of Popular Group
Dr. Mostafizur Rahman, a young doctor was dreaming to make his career in surgery and trying to get transfer in a training post in Dhaka. At this point, he could manage transfer from Thana Health Complex to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The Dhaka Medical College Hospital authority posted him in Central Pathology Laboratory of the Hospital. Gradually he developed interest in pathology and continued his service there.
Dr. Mostafizur Rahman established a diagnostic laboratory in the name of Popular Diagnostic Centre Ltd. with three small rooms at Elephant road, Dhaka with a promise to render best possible standard services to the people of the country at an affordable cost and in turn to limit the outflow of the patient abroad at the expense of hard earned foreign currency. He was doing well and progressively improving in his quality of service & performance. Later, he was transferred to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital in 1985. At this stage he decided to leave the government job and concentrate fully with his establishment. This was a turning point in his carrier planning and he never have to look back.
Dr. Mostafizur Rahman started Popular Pharmaceuticals Ltd. in 2002. He purchased the then “Fisons Bangladesh Ltd.” and appointed an Australian Consultant from Asia Pacific Company to make a master plan for the construction of a complete pharmaceutical factory plant. Within three years the construction was completed & it began producing quality medical products in July, 2005.
To fulfill his dream to build up the "Popular Group" as the state of the art total health care provider of the country in the non-government sector Dr. Md. Mostafizur Rahman began a 250 bed hospital in the name of Popular Specialized Hospital Ltd. With the achievement of a well functioning hospital well wishers and admirers added fuel to his dream of establishing a medical college. On 9th September, 2009 in an Iftar party hosted by him to honour the medical specialists Dr. Mostfizur Rahman expressed his desire of establishing a medical college in the coming days. In his speech he also mentioned that Professor T. I. M. Abudllah-Al- Faruq would be the principal of the medical college. Everybody present in the party supported his desire with a big hand.
On 17 February, an advertisement for the establishment of two new private medical colleges appeared in the national dailies. Dr. Mostafizur Rahman rushed to Professor TIM Abdullah-Al-Faruq to show him the advertisement and expressed his keen desire to establish a medical college.
Professor TIM Abdullah-Al-Faruq observed that the session was almost over and classes had already started in all medical colleges. So, he advised Dr. Mostafizur Rahman not to rush to establish a medical college at the cost of quality. He also said that, being a pioneer and perfectionist in the field of diagnostic services and pharmaceuticals, Dr. Rahman should start with a quality medical college from the very beginning. Dr. Mostafizur Rahman agreed with his proposal, and active planning for the establishment of a medical college started on that very day.
On 29 December 2010, after 10 months of planning and active work, Popular Medical College opened its doors to students, with Professor TIM Abdullah-Al-Faruq as the founder principal. The college was established at a prime location in Dhaka city, where most civic facilities were available within a 5-kilometer radius and the campus was easily accessible by all kinds of transport.