Zafrullah: a people’s doctor

 For the welfare of the people of the country, Freedom Fighter Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury (1941-2023) remains a memorable name in the soil of Bangladesh. Although he did not directly take up arms in the Liberation War, he brought about revolutionary changes by serving wounded freedom fighters, arranging arms for the war, and founding the Gonoshasthaya (Public Health) Hospital to ensure public health care. He was the first to call out many donor-supplied medicines as “unnecessary drugs.” His 1982 Drug Policy not only contributed to public health and economic development in Bangladesh but also influenced health policies in many countries around the world. He firmly believed that women’s independence and empowerment were essential for national development. Accordingly, in all institutions and initiatives under Gonoshasthaya, he prioritised women. A communist—fiery yet compassionate—he was extremely honest and incredibly brave. In this land of class inequality, he fought relentlessly for the fundamental rights of the marginalised and the establishment of democracy, always speaking out boldly for justice. To him, humanity came first. Every person found refuge in him. Even in his final days, suffering from a serious illness and undergoing dialysis, he joined protests with a cannula in his hand, marching against the government with the people’s demands.