Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman has expressed gratitude to all the doctors who treated former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia over the past eight years.
"A team, including Professor Dr A.T.M. Farid Uddin, had been treating his mother during this period. People across the country know her as Deshnetri Khaleda Zia. As her son, and as family members who could not be by her side during this time, we sincerely thank these doctors from the bottom of our hearts," Tarique Rahman said.
He was speaking as the chief guest at the national conference of the Doctors' Association of Bangladesh (DAB) at Willes Little Flower School and College in the city.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir attended the event as a special guest, while DAB President Professor Dr Harun Al Rashid presided over it. National University Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Md. Lutfor Rahman moderated the conference.
Tarique Rahman said the doctors' dedication was no less than that of a family member. "In some cases, it seems they have taken even more responsibility than a son. For this, we are extremely grateful to the entire medical community," he said.
He also thanked DAB members for treating victims of political oppression over the past decade and a half. "For more than a decade, BNP leaders, activists and even ordinary citizens, who were not involved in politics, have protested against injustices. Many were injured in doing so. DAB members cared for these victims, and on behalf of all who received treatment, I sincerely thank you," he said.
Calling for cooperation to implement the BNP's 31-point plan, he said doctors who believe in Bangladeshi nationalism have an important role in meeting healthcare-related goals in the plan. "These cannot be achieved by our party's Members of Parliament or leaders alone," he noted.
Highlighting the need for collective effort to realise a new vision for Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman concluded by saying, "If we all work together to fulfil the expectations of those who sacrificed during the July Mass Uprising and in the past 15 years, we will be able to build the Bangladesh of our dreams. For this, everyone must contribute, even if only a little."
