Staff Correspondent

On the first working day after Eid on Sunday noon, a post-Eid reunion meeting was held at BPA Bhaban at Mirpur in the city with Prof Abdul Hannan in the chair, says a press release.

Organized by the newly- formed committee of Bangladesh Pediatric Association (BPA), at the event, the newly formed BPA's President Prof Abdul Hannan, Secretary General Dr. Yamin Shahriar Chowdhury and Treasurer Prof Md. Mostafizur Rahman exchanged Eid greetings with government and private pediatricians from various medical colleges and hospitals in the capital.

The visiting pediatricians welcomed all the newly- formed committee members with flowers bucket.

The pediatricians present at the event demanded reforms in the existing child health sector, promotion, creation of supernumerary and regular posts, establish of an international standard government multidisciplinary children's institute in Dhaka and appointment of manpower including government in children's hospitals already established at all divisional levels of the country. They strongly demanded necessary reforms in the constitution of BPA in line with the times and introduction of online voting system. In order to develop knowledge in line with other developed countries, a strong demand was made by pediatricians for the modernization of various scientific seminars, journals and websites in the near future.

In the meeting, BPA Treasurer Prof Md. Mostafizur Rahman said, "Under our leadership, not only all government pediatricians but also private pediatricians will have to stand by them, if necessary to eliminate deprivation and discrimination. The private medical colleges promised to ensure that no pediatrician is laid off without reason and that no pediatrician is humiliated at working station. "He also said – "We have not come to be leaders, we have only come to represent and assert the rights of pediatricians."

Greeting everyone present at the Eid reunion meeting, BPA Secretary General Dr. Yamin Shahriar Chowdhury said – "BPA has not only worked for the promotion of pediatricians, but is also on the way to implementing supernumerary (7750) posts for a large number of specialist doctors in the country with the help of BPA and OGSB.

" He expressed surprise that BPA’s website has not been updated for the last four years. He complained that the previous unelected BPA had not done any improvement for the development of the child health sector. He thanked all the pediatricians for standing by the government in achieving the demand for promotion. He wish to announce a full committee soon and emphasized the importance of starting BPA’s continuous activities and organizing scientific seminars in various institutions of the country. He spoke about the abolition of the black law in the BPA’s constitution and organizing elections after necessary reforms including online voting. He expressed hope that if we work for the realization of rights, it is possible to win the next election with the support of everyone.

BPA President Prof Abdul Hannan said, "I am the first elected BPA President of the country. I have come forward and am by your side in the current crisis of BPA and the necessary reforms." He also said, "BPA must be freed from the hands of Dhaka Shishu Hospital and Bangladesh Medical University. BPA must be truly representative. BPA cannot be kept in the lap of the old fascist style. He expressed hope – BPA will regain its lost tradition with the help of the current committee. He ended his speech by calling on everyone to remain united in establishing rights of Pediatricians.

Dr. Md. Shafiqul Islam, Dr. Ainul Islam Khan, Dr. Md. Monir Hossain, Prof Khaybar Ali, Prof Abdur Rouf, Prof Amjad Hossain, Dr. Rakibul Islam Khan, Dr. Abdur Rouf, Dr. ASM. Mahamuduzzaman, Dr. Mustafa Shira Mou and others spoke on the occasion.