Drik Gallery celebrated its 34th founding anniversary by honouring the extraordinary Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury and his contribution to ensuring equal access to healthcare for all. The Independence Award recipient founded Gonoshasthaya Kendra in 1972, a public charitable trust, which played a pivotal role in revolutionising healthcare in the country.

Drik organised a candid discussion titled "Dr Zafrullah, National Drug Policy 1982 and Health Movement of Bangladesh" at the Golam Kasem Daddy Lecture Series exhibition, which took place at DrikPath Bhobon in the capital's Panthapath on Monday.

The event was chaired by Drik Managing Director Shahidul Alam.

During his keynote address as the chief guest of the event, Professor Sayedur Rahman, chairperson, Pharmacology Department, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, said, "Dr Zafrullah was not only a vital asset to Bangladesh but to the global healthcare scenario."

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In 1982, Dr Zafrullah formulated Bangladesh's National Drug Policy, promising affordable access to medications for all.

Reflecting on Dr Zafrullah's journey to ensure the availability and affordability of safe medicines for the masses, the keynote speaker remarked, "Due to the 1982 policy, drug prices became affordable, and domestic pharmaceutical companies thrived, surpassing foreign competitors.

Whereas we were entirely dependent on the imports of pharmaceuticals, we now produce more than 54% of it, and Dr Zafrullah single-handedly ensured it."

The speaker also pointed out that despite the Drug Policy benefiting national and multinational pharmaceutical companies, some opposed it and spread propaganda against it, contributing to issues like drug shortages and syndicates. "They are the one that makes syndicates, and they are the one who creates false shortages of medicines in the country. If the government adhered to Dr Zafruallah's policies, these issues could have been mitigated," Professor Sayedur shared with The Daily Star.

Sayedur Rahman highlighted that Bangladesh's drug policy served as a model in the global arena as many nations followed our footstep. Dr Zafrullah's advocacy extended beyond health rights to include women's empowerment, civic rights, and justice in society. He was an early advocate for banning smoking on organisational premises by implementing it at Gonoshasthaya Kendra.

Shahidul Alam praised Dr Zafrullah's ability to maintain positive relationships with people from diverse backgrounds and political affiliations, even when they had ideological differences—a rare quality in Bangladesh's politically divided landscape.

"Zafrullah Chowdhury is a hero of all civil rights movements in the country. The ideology of Zafrullah must be spread amongst the younger generation of the country to bring about social change," he remarked.

Drik Gallery hosts an annual lecture on its founding anniversary, September 4, dedicated to the eminent photographer Daddy. This year, they paid tribute to Zafrullah Chowdhury, who passed away on April 11 this year.