Dhaka, May 6 (BDNEWS) – Amidst protest demonstration by the anti government doctors' organisation, Health minister Dr Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain Saturday inaugurated the academic activities of the newly-established Begum Khaleda Zia Medical College at city's Shahid Suhrawardi hospital premises.
The 14th public medical college of the country created huge controversy as its temporary campus is set up at the Suhrawardi hospital being named after the incumbent Prime Minister.
The pro-Awami League doctor's forum Shwadhinata Chikitshok Parishad, termed the step as 'defamatory' to the legendary politician Hossain Shahid Suhrawardi, popularly respected as the 'Brainchild of Democracy.'
The Parishad, led by AL health and population secretary Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, had brought out a procession and demonstrated against the government step at the hospital premises before the minister's arrival.
The health and family welfare minister explained the soundness of the naming of the college saying, "We have actually honoured more the late great leader (Suhrawardi) by establishing a medical college named after the great woman Begum Khaleda Zia at the hospital premises named after him."
"Begum Zia is the founder of parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh," he said adding, "They who buried the multi-party democracy by introducing one-party BKSAL system, now use to shed crocodile tears in the name of Suhrawardi."
"Even they do not observe his birth or death anniversaries," Dr Mosharraf said.
The health minister regretted saying that if the opponents could realize the fact, they would 'welcome me with flowers'. He recalled Begum Zia's directive not to change the name of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) as she said that it was named after a 'respected leader.'
He also said that government had a plan to extend the Suhrawardi hospital to a 1,000 bed one and expand other facilities to turn it to a complete health care centre equivalent to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Among others, state minister for health Mizanur Rahman Sinha and secretary of the ministry AKM Zafarullah Khan, local MP Mosaddek Ali, BMA president Prof. Dr MA Hadi and secretary general Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain also spoke at the inaugural ceremony chaired by Prof. Dr AKM Azizul Haque, principal and project director of the college.
BDNEWS/1706 hrs
