Dhaka Bureau: To ensure low-cost treatment for the common people of Bangladesh, Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury Gonoshathya Kendra is the first health center or hospital in independent Bangladesh, operating as a private aid organization.
This innovative company was born in 1971 on Indian soil. The birth of this great institution was in Savanthganj, near Agartala.
Khaled Musharraf, the commander of Sector 2 of the Great War of Liberation, was conducting the war of liberation by staying in this region. The institution was built for the treatment of freedom fighters injured in the war. It was named ‘Bangladesh Field Hospital’.
A 480-bed hospitals operation theater was constructed of bamboo. Critical operations for freedom fighters who were seriously injured in the war were also done in this bamboo hospital.
One of the founders of the hospital is Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury, and the only cardiac surgeon in Pakistan at that time was Dr. MA Mobin. A group of service providers was formed with paramedic training. Human rights activist and former caretaker government advisor Sultana Kamal is also one of them.
In 1972, when the initiative was taken to build the hospital in independent Bangladesh, the administration objected to the name. At that time, like many other matters, it also reached the ears of President Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Dr. Zafrullah went to the secretariat and met Bangabandhu.
Dr. about the conversation with Bangabandhu that day. Zafrullah himself said, “Mujib brother, Bangladesh is not being allowed to build a field hospital.”
“If Bangladesh is the name, how does it feel like an official government? said Bangabandhu. “Fix some other beautiful name for the hospital,” said Bangabandhu.
After much argument, Bangabandhu said, ‘You will decide on three names. I will fix three names. The hospital will be named after the two who sat down.
Dr. fixed three names and went to Bangabandhu again. Zafrullah Chowdhury.
“Say, what name did you decide?”
Dr. Zafrullah began to say, ‘One. Bangladesh Field Hospital; two. Public Health Center…
Without giving a chance to say the third name, Bangabandhu said, ‘Gonoshasthaya Kendra’ is a very beautiful name. This is the name of the hospital. This hospital will not only treat The country should be built. The public health center has to work with health, agriculture, and education.
Zohra Begum, the joint secretary of the government of Pakistan, and Dr. Lutfar Rahman gave the hospital five acres of land from their family property in Savar. Bangabandhu acquired another 23 acres of land. The liberation war institution ‘Bangladesh Field Hospital’ started its journey in 1972 under the changed name of ‘Gonoshasthaya Kendra’. All the doctors and staff of public health centers should refrain from smoking and engage themselves in agricultural work.
