BNP’s Health Affairs Secretary Dr. Md. Rafiqul Islam has alleged that attempts are being made to create instability in the country by raising the issue of the Proportional Representation (PR) system. He said those behind the move are fully aware that such a system is not acceptable for Bangladesh, yet a clique is deliberately trying to cause division. Speaking as the chief guest at a discussion meeting organized by the Bangladesh Society of Pharmacists at the National Press Club on Thursday to mark World Pharmacists Day, Dr. Rafiqul said:
“In countries like Israel where the PR system exists, it is still controversial. If elected representatives are not allowed to work in their own constituencies, such a system cannot be accepted. During the July uprising, none of us who were in prison demanded the PR system. Everywhere I looked, I only saw BNP leaders and activists on the streets. The statistics alone would show who contributed and how much during July. This unnecessary debate is being created only to serve the agenda of a neighboring country.”
Expressing concern over the post-July political scenario, he warned:
“The democracy for which so many people sacrificed their lives, faced enforced disappearances, and endured persecution over the past 16 years is now under threat from a certain group. We must question their motives and identify the forces backing them.”
Highlighting the contribution of pharmacists to Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Rafiqul said the sector is now recognized globally and pharmacists are one of the main contributors to this achievement. He pointed out that nearly 70 percent of healthcare costs in Bangladesh are borne directly by patients from their own pockets.
“Indiscriminate use of medicines is pushing up treatment costs, while irrational use of antibiotics outside prescriptions is creating the alarming crisis of antibiotic resistance,” he said.
To address the crisis, he emphasized the urgent need for a robust health policy that incorporates A-grade pharmacists into the healthcare system.
Recalling the contribution of late President Ziaur Rahman in the health sector, he said:
“Guided by the ideals of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia and BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, a revolution will take place in every sector, including healthcare—where pharmacists will have a vital role to play.”
The discussion was also addressed by Prof. Dr. Abdur Rashid, Advisor of Ziaur Rahman Foundation; BNP’s Assistant Office Secretary Md. Monir Hossain; Prof. Dr. Saifullah Munshi, Director and Project Director of the Super Specialized Hospital, BMU; writer-columnist and political figure Dr. Shakhawat Hossain Sayant; Prof. Dr. Sohel Rana, President of Jahangirnagar University Teachers’ Association; and Dr. Jahangir Hossain, among others.