The Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB), a pro-BNP physicians’ organization, has suspended its Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs, Dr Zahid Hasan Ripok, over the alleged assault on Prof Dr Kazi Ahmed Zaki, director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), inside his office on Wednesday.
It also formed a probe committee to look into the incident, which took place around 11:30am.
Confirming the development, DAB President Prof Dr Harun Al Rashid told UNB that the organization initially identified the main person involved in the incident after reviewing video footage and suspended his membership.
“He has been given 48 hours to explain his position. A probe committee has also been formed,” he said.
Harun said strict organizational action will be taken against the accused if he fails to provide a satisfactory explanation within the stipulated time.
He also made it clear that DAB does not support such disorder or wrongdoing in any way.
The victim and the accused are lifetime members of DAB.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Wednesday described the alleged assault on the IEDCR director inside his office as an “act of audacity and a criminal offence”.
“This is undoubtedly an overstepping of limits, an act of audacity and a criminal offence. It must be properly investigated, and those responsible must be brought to justice. Otherwise, the fragile healthcare system will not be able to recover under any circumstances,” he said in a Facebook post.
After the BNP formed the government, the government made Zaki, a public health expert who recently conducted research on the effectiveness of measles vaccines, the IEDCR director.
According to the account of the incident, the director was holding a meeting with several people in his office in the morning when eight to nine individuals suddenly entered the room.
They allegedly pulled him out of his chair and began assaulting him.
