Bangladesh Clinical Psychology Association (BCPA)

To promote professional interests of Clinical Psychologists and to ensure their quality of training and service standard, a professional body named The Bangladesh Clinical Psychology Association (BCPA) was formed in 26 October, 1999. It started with six general members, seventeen trainee members and an affiliate member. Five Bangladeshi Clinical Psychology teachers of Dhaka University along with one Bangladeshi expatriate Clinical Psychologist in UK, Ms. Farzin Haq, who was also a trainer of the course, together formed the association where all the five local clinical psychology teachers during the inception of the clinical psychology course at Dhaka University became full member of the association by ‘Grandfather Clause’ of it’s constitution.

Founder President of BCPA was Professor Dr. M. Anisur Rahman, General Secretary Prof. Dr. M. Mahmudur Rahman and Vice President Prof. Dr. Roquia Begum. Dr. Parveen Haque was treasurer and Professor Hamida Akther Begum was joint secretary of the first executive committee of the association.

The Bangladesh Clinical Psychology Association (BCPA) has changed its name and become Bangladesh Clinical Psychology Society (BCPS) in its Extra Ordinary General Meeting (EGM) on 23rd February in 2010. In this connection it might be mentioned that constitution of BCPA ( currently BCPS) is amended twice on 6th June in 2009 and on 23rd February in 2010 consecutively. BCPS approved its ethical guide line on 6th June, 2009.

At present the number of General Members of the Society is thirty one and the number of life member is three. Moreover, the society has twenty five affiliate members and fifty seven trainee members.

Clinical psychology course got it’s momentum in the Department of Psychology, University of Dhaka . In 1997, a separate Department of Clinical Psychology at Dhaka University was established. Professor Dr. Anisur Rahman took active part in establishing the department with the close cooperation and support of Professor Dr. Roquia Begum and Professor Dr. Mahmudur Rahman. Professor Dr. Sultana Banu, Dr. Hamida Akther Begum and Dr. Parveen Haque were cordially involved in this issue as well. Professor Dr. M. Anisur Rahman was acting chairman of the department from October 13, 1997 and became regular chairman from May 19, 1999. Clinical Psychology Department was established under the technical assistance of DFID. It provided a group clinical psychologists from United Kingdom as guest lecturer for three years. Totally eight British teachers visited several times and taught the clinical psychology trainees. Dr. Graham Powell was the UK coordinator of the course.

BCPS prepared draft of its strategy planning for next five years. The plan need to be passed in next Annual General Meeting. The official address of BCPS is 83 Noya Paltan Line, Azimpur, Dhaka. From the very beginning BCPS is working closely in collaboration with the Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Dhaka. Trainees of the Department are the main working force of the society.

Four Annual General Meetings (AGM) of the BCPA (now BCPS) were held so far.

First Executive Committee of BCPA:

A. President: Prof. Dr. M. Anisur Rhaman
B. Vice President: Prof. Dr. Roquia Begum
C. General Secretary: Prof. Dr. M. Mahmudur Rahman

Second Executive Committee of BCPA:

A. President: Prof. Dr. M. Anisur Rahman
B. Vice President: Prof. Dr. Roquia Begum
C. General Secretary: Prof. Dr. M. Mahmudur Rahman

Third Executive Committee of BCPA:

A. President: Prof. Dr. M. Anisur Rhaman
B. Vice President: Prof. Dr. Roquia Begum
C. General Secretary: Prof. Dr. M. Mahmudur Rahman

Fourth Executive Committee of BCPA:

A. President: Prof. Dr. M. Anisur Rhaman
B. Vice President: Prof. Dr. Roquia Begum
C. General Secretary: Md. Zahir Uddin

Fifth Executive Committee of BCPS:

A. President: Prof. Dr. Roquia Begum
B. Vice President: Mr. Kamal Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury
C. General Secretary: Md. Zahir Uddin