People pay last tribute to Dr Zafrullah at Shaheed Minar

DU Correspondent :
People from all walks of life paid tribute with love and respect to the founder of Gonoshasthya Kendra and the heroic Freedom Fighter Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury after his body was kept at Central Shaheed Minar on Thursday.
His body was taken to the premises of Shaheed Minar from the mortuary of BIRDEM around 10:00am and the body was kept till 1.00pm. Dr Zafrullah was given a guard of honour by the State at the Shaheed Minar premises.
Different political parties, social and cultural organisations placed wreaths on the coffin to show their last respect to the departed soul.
Leaders and workers of different organisations including Twelve Party Alliance, Gano Forum, Mahila Parishad, Gonoshasthya Family, Mass Cultural Front, Bangladesh Labour Party, Doctors Platform for People’s Health, Doctors for Health and Environment paid tribute to him.
Among others, Planning Minister MA Mannan, DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman, Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua also paid their respect.
After paying tribute, Planning Minister MA Mannan said, “He is not only a freedom fighter and doctor but also he carried out an important role to make positive changes. Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury has a wonderful family and he is the most extraordinary person among the extraordinary”.
“He (Dr. Zafrullah) had an outstanding contribution in the liberation war. After independence of the country, he not only spoke but also worked to build Bangladesh. Gonoshasthya Kendra is an example of his work. His role in the health sector has undoubtedly benefited the nation,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said after paying tribute.
“I don’t know if we can find such a frank, honest and democratic person. His departure left a great void for us. This void is not easily filled,” he added.
Meanwhile, the first Namaz-e-Janaza of Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury was held at Suhrawardy Udyan around at 2:30pm. His body will be taken to Gonoshasthaya Kendra in Savar at 10 am on Friday. He will be buried there.
During the Namaaj-e-Janaza, his son, Barish Chowdhury, said, “It was my father’s lifelong dream to donate his body to medical science. We had been trying to donate it to established institutions. We have contacted two such institutions. Both of them have informed us that they are unable to accept the body”.
“They have told us that they cannot use his father’s body for cutting practice. They have expressed this from their gratitude. We have nothing more to do here. So tomorrow, after the Janaza, he will be buried at Savar with honour”.
The Namaj-e-Janaza was attended, among others, by Professor Sirajul Islam Choudhury, Barrister Amirul Islam Choudhury, Chairman of the Jatiya Party GM Quader, President of JSD ASM Abdur Rob, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, General Secretary of BNP Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Permanent Committee Member of BNP Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Abdus Salam, Barkat Ullah Bulu, Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, General Secretary of Biplobi Workers Party Saiful Haque, Chief Coordinator of Gonosanghati Andolon Jonayed Saki, and convener of Bhashani Anusari Parishad Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu.
The 81-year-old Dr Zafrullah breathed his last on Tuesday night while undergoing treatment at Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital in Dhanmondi.
Dr Zafrullah was a vascular surgeon and public health expert. He was born in Chattogram’s Raujan Upazila on 27 December in 1941.
During Liberation War in 1971, Zafrullah and others set up Bangladesh Field Hospital in India for injured freedom fighters and the refugees. He set up the Gonoshasthaya Kendra for treatment of underprivileged people in 1972.