Despite his intentions to donate his body to medical science, the late Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury's body will ultimately be buried.
His son, Bareesh Hasan Chowdhury, on Thursday said two hospitals were contacted regarding the donation of his father's body and the hospital authorities refused to operate on Dr Zafrullah's body “out of utmost respect.”
“My father's lifelong dream was to donate his body for medical science. We had wanted to donate it to a prestigious institution; therefore, we contacted two hospitals but they refused saying there was no one willing to take a knife to his body,” said Bareesh.
According to family sources, Zafrullah Chowdhury had been discussing his desire to donate his body with his family members over the past five to six years.
Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu, convener of Bhasani Anusari Parishad, said respecting Dr Zafrullah's wishes, his family contacted Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital, and the authorities of both hospitals refused to take any of his organs.
Bablu, also a close associate of Dr Zafrullah, said his wish of donating his body was never formally announced.
“Dr Zafrullah wrote on a stamp paper expressing his wish to donate his body, but he did not sign it, nor did he specify any date in that note. The letter is with the chairman of the board of trustees of Gonoshasthaya Kendra,” he said.
The third namaz-e-janaza of Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury was held at Suhrawardy Udyan at 2.30pm on Thursday.
His body reached Savar on Thursday evening. The heroic freedom fighter and the founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra will be buried at Gono Bishwabidyalay on Friday after the fifth namaz-e-janaza in Savar.
