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Professor Kazi Ahmed Zaki, director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), was allegedly assaulted by members of the Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB), a pro-BNP physicians’ organisation, in his office in Dhaka on Wednesday.
The incident reportedly took place around 11am when eight to nine people entered his office, disrupted a meeting and pulled him from his chair before assaulting him, according to video footage of the incident.
Professor Zaki alleged that DAB members created disorder and beat him inside his office.
DAB President Professor Harun Al Rashid confirmed the incident but accused Zaki of wrongdoing, questioning his meeting with public health expert Meerjady Sabrina Flora at the IEDCR office under the current government.
Flora held several key positions in the health sector during the Awami League government and became widely known for her media briefings during the Covid-19 pandemic.
A public health expert who was present during the incident told the media, on condition of anonymity, that they had never seen the people involved at the IEDCR before.
Mushtaque Hossain, a public health expert and former chief scientific officer of the IEDCR, condemned the incident and called for an investigation and punishment of those responsible.
The IEDCR monitors disease outbreaks, conducts research and issues public health alerts. Professor Zaki was appointed director during the current government and recently conducted research on the effectiveness of measles vaccines.