Law Adviser Asif Nazrul has expressed regret to physicians regarding his recent remarks, posting an apology on his official Facebook page on Sunday.
In his post, he wrote: “During an event yesterday, I made some comments about doctors. First, I shared my positive experiences as a patient. Then, based on others’ experiences, I mentioned some criticisms. I clarified these didn’t apply to all doctors – many are excellent, though complaints exist against some. I presented some criticisms as statements, others as questions.”
The adviser noted that media outlets hadn’t published his full remarks, potentially creating the impression he was broadly accusing all doctors of not listening to patients, ordering unnecessary tests, or colluding with pharmaceutical companies. “This isn’t accurate,” he clarified. “My criticisms targeted a specific group of practitioners, not the entire medical community.”
He further wrote: “The way some newspapers reported my comments might suggest I was addressing all doctors. This could deeply hurt the countless dedicated, honest and skilled physicians serving patients with tremendous sacrifice. To these medical professionals, I sincerely apologise.” However, he maintained that authorities should investigate whether such complaints held truth for some practitioners – even if there were only a few.
Earlier on Saturday, the law adviser had criticised some doctors for allegedly prioritising pharmaceutical companies’ interests over patients. His remarks highlighted concerns about physicians pressuring patients to buy specific brands of medicine.
The adviser questioned why major Bangladeshi hospitals allocate fixed schedules for drug company representatives – a practice he claimed was unheard of elsewhere. “Are doctors acting as pharmaceutical brokers?” he asked.
These comments drew sharp reactions from medical professionals. BNP Health Affairs Secretary Dr Rafiqul Islam, the pro-BNP Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB), National Doctors Forum, and National Citizens Party issued statements condemning the remarks.
