The National Citizen Party on Wednesday slammed health adviser Nurjahan Begum for her ‘inactivity’ and demanded her resignation, mentioning that she is ‘a glaring example of Bangladesh interim government chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus’s favouritism’.
The party alleged that Nurjahan did not have any qualification to become the health adviser, except her qualification of being close to Yunus and being a former acting managing director of Yunus-founded Grameen Bank.
NCP chief organiser for South Hasnat Abdullah made the remarks at a rally in a bus stand area in Chandpur as part of the party’s ongoing programmes marking the first anniversary of the July mass uprising that ousted the authoritarian Awami League regime on August 5, 2024.
‘The health adviser is a glaring example of Dr Muhammad Yunus’s favouritism. … She does not understand the health system. She does not understand medical system. Her only qualification is that she is a former official of Grameen Bank and close to Dr Yunus,’ said Hasnat.
Addressing the rally, he said, ‘We have a health adviser. Do you know her? She has been appointed under Dr Muhammad Yunus’s ‘‘bhai-brother’’ quota. … We have been saying that this health adviser is not needed. Did you see any kind of activities of her?’
‘The salary she takes will be haram [illegal]. The car she rides in government money is a betrayal with people. This health advisor is useless. … What will we do whit this health adviser? And it is unfortunate that he goes Singapore for her treatment,’ Hasnat mentioned.
‘This health adviser should resign immediately depositing people’s money she has taken as salary, in the state treasury,’ said Hasnat.
‘We wanted reforms in the state systems. It is unfortunate that the health system remains the same as it was earlier. The law and order system also remains the same as it was earlier,’ observed Hasnat.
Referring to Monday’s Bangladesh Air Force jet’s tragic crash at a building of Milestone School and College in the capital’s Uttara area, Hasnat said that Mahreen Chowdhury, a teacher at the school who sacrificed her life while rescuing students, was not recognised by the state properly.
‘You will see that no civilian can become a hero in our country,’ said Hasnat.
The death toll from the Bangladesh Air Force jet crash reached 32, mostly primary-level students, on Wednesday.
Hasnat also mentioned that ousted Awami League tried to make a comeback centring the bodies of the jet crash victims and urged all political parties and people to remain united in this situation.
NCP leaders and activists, including the party’s chief organiser for North, Sarjis Alam, chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary and senior joint convener Samanta Shermeen, among others, participated in the rally.
Earlier in the morning, the party leaders met with July uprising martyrs’ family members and held a march to commemorate the jet crash victims.
Later in the afternoon, they exchanged views with the members of the July martyrs’ families and held a rally in Cumilla.
