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Dhaka, August 17, 2025: Dr Rafiqul Islam, Health Affairs Secretary of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has strongly condemned recent remarks by prominent legal expert Dr Asif Nazrul, accusing him of making damaging and offensive statements that risk eroding public trust in the medical profession. Speaking in a video message at the Annual General Meeting of the Bangladesh Private Hospital, Clinic and Diagnostic Owners Association, Dr Nazrul reportedly called doctors “agents of pharmaceutical companies” and questioned their professional integrity, sparking widespread anger among medical professionals.
Dr Rafiqul described the remarks as baseless and disrespectful, arguing that they undermine the dignity and morale of doctors who have shown immense dedication, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic and Bangladesh’s democratic and liberation struggles. “Dr Nazrul is a respected jurist whose statements often inspire positive change, but his exaggerated claims can also create confusion and unrest,” he said. He expressed disappointment that doctors present at the event, including hosts and speakers, did not immediately protest the remarks.
