Dhaka, May 3 (BDNEWS) – Elections to the Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA), an organisation of 15,000 physicians, will be held on Thursday.
While the polls have created enthusiasm among the voters, pro-opposition doctors fear harassment and transfers as means of intimidation.
Two panels are in a direct fray.
Current BMA President Dr MA Hadee and General Secretary Dr AZM Zahid Hossain are leading the pro-government panel of the Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB).
On the other hand, former BMA president Dr Rashid-e-Mahbub and Dr Iqbal Arslan are leading the Awami Leagued-backed Swadhinata Chikitshok Parishad (SCP) panel.
Some 15,000 voters will cast their votes from 8:30am to 5:00pm May 5 in Dhaka and 64 districts. Voters will also elect district committees, apart from the central body.
In Dhaka, voting will take place at the BMA headquarters at Topkhana Road while in districts, general hospitals will be the polling booths.
Election preparation was going on at the BMA Bhaban in the capital Tuesday. Both panels had set up their camps.
The panels Tuesday also announced their election pledges.
The Hadee-Zahid panel of the DAB at a meeting at Dr Milon auditorium at Dhaka Medical College Hospital elaborated its past successes and announced a 28-point election commitment.
It pledged to work for increasing allowances for intern doctors and for filling up vacant posts at union level.
The Rashid-Iqbal panel at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity announced its 16-point election pledge.
They alleged that the ruling party-backed panel is trying to influence the physicians working at government hospitals and organisations. The government physicians are being threatened that they will be transferred if they did not vote for the government panel, they further alleged.
The panel leaders also alleged that the government panel is preparing for rigging.
BDNEWS/1950 hrs.