Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury passes away

Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder and trustee Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury has passed away at the age of 81.

"Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury passed away today at 11pm," Gonoshasthaya Kendra Press Advisor Jahangir Alam Mintu told The Business Standard on Tuesday (11 April).

He had been on life support since Monday (10 April) with a critical health condition.

Earlier, he was admitted to the Nagar Hospital after falling seriously ill on 7 April.

He was suffering from kidney complications as well as old age complications.

Dr Zafrullah was a well-known Bangladeshi physician and public health activist. He received his medical degree from Dhaka Medical College in 1966 and later received a master's degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University in the United States.

He was in surgical training in London when the liberation war of Bangladesh erupted in 1971. Hurrying home, he established a field hospital with his colleagues to treat battle casualties.

In 1972, he founded Gonoshasthaya Kendra with the aim of providing healthcare services to underserved communities in Bangladesh.

Condolences pour in for Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the death of Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, the founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra.

Sheikh Hasina, in her condolence message, remembered Dr Zafrullah's glorious contribution to the 1971 liberation war, medicine industry and public health sector of the country.

The Prime Minister prayed for the departed soul and expressed her deepest condolences to the bereaved family members.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque grieved the death of the noted public health expert Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury.

Expressing profound shock and sorrow, Dr Momen in a condolence message prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.

The foreign minister said, "Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury had worked his whole life to make health care easier for the common people." 

"He was not only a mass people's physician, but he was also fearless and a true nationalist inspired by genuine patriotism," Dr Momen said adding that Dr Zafrullah's contributions will be remembered forever.

Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud today expressed profound shock and sorrow at the death of Swadhinata Padak recipient and a valiant freedom fighter Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury.

In a condolence message, the minister recalled the outstanding contribution of Zafrullah, who established the Field Hospital in 1971, the architect of 1982's National Drug Policy and the founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra.

He prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.

State Minister for Water Resources Colonel (retd) Zahid Farooq, MP, and Deputy Minister AKM Enamul Haque Shamim mourned the death of the veteran physician.

In a condolence message, they said Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury's contribution to the independence of Bangladesh and the development of the country's public health sector will be remembered.

State Minister for Cultural Affairs K M Khalid MP expressed deep grief over the death of valiant freedom fighter Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury.

Extending condolences to the bereaved family, he said the nation will remember him through his achievements in the pharmaceutical industry and public health sector.

Awami League Advisory Council Member and Central 14-party Coordinator and Spokesperson Amir Hossain Amu, Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian also expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury.