But the beginning is not today. For 46 years, Dr.Ebadullah has continued his medical services in this way. In today’s age, where an MBBS doctor’s consultation fee is reduced to Tk 500-700, Dr Ebadullah sees a patient for just Tk 10.
If you have read the novel ‘Arogya Niketan’ by Tarashankar Banerjee, then you must remember that benevolent gentleman! If you don’t remember, let me remind you. Mashai was a famous poet of an unknown village called Devipur. A few men used to take a vow of service. He used to give treatment to all the people of the village completely free. With the medicine and services of this gentleman, many times even the comatose patients were brought back to life. And so, Mashai’s clinic was named ‘Arogya Niketan’.
These things often happen in novels. Is it true or not? Of course! One such burning mashai was found in Satkhira. A doctor named Md. Ebadullah sees the patient for a fee of only 10 taka. But the beginning is not today. For 46 years, Dr. Md. Ebadullah has been continuing his medical services in this way. In today’s era, where an MBBS doctor’s consultation fee is reduced to Tk 500-700, Dr Md Ebadullah sees patients for just Tk 10.
Dr Md Ebadullah was born in Kadakati village of Asashuni upazila of Satkhira. He was the eldest among 11 siblings. Abdullah was an attentive student from childhood. The results are also good. Ashashuni passed matriculation from the first division high school. Once upon a time grandfather Nawab Ali took all responsibility for the education of the talented Abdullah.
Grandfather Nawab Ali wanted grandson Abdullah to serve people as a doctor. He used to tell Abdullah to prioritize service over business as a doctor. Dr Abdullah promised to Dada that he will become a doctor and serve people. No one keeps their word, it is not true. Some keep talking. Abdullah also kept his promise to his grandfather throughout his life.
Dr. Ebadullah is a freedom fighter. He still did not become a doctor. Student of Rajshahi Medical College. He did not participate in any academic activities for 9 months of the liberation war. In March 1971, he returned from the medical college to his native Satkhira. Throughout the liberation war, he provided treatment to tortured mothers and sisters. Besides, he gave necessary help and support to many people, starting from war wounded freedom fighters, and exchanged secret war news. Ebadullah sheltered many freedom fighters in his house at that time. After the liberation of Bangladesh after the liberation war, he passed MBBS from Rajshahi Medical College and started his life as a doctor.
The time is 1980. Being a child of an ordinary middle-class family, Dr Ebadullah realized that it was an unrealistic fantasy for poor people to seek treatment from an MBBS doctor for exorbitant fees. He did not forget his promise to his grandfather to become a doctor. Young doctor Ebadullah started his own chamber besides providing hospital services to bring the poor and helpless people under medical care. He fixed the fee only 5 tk . He did not stop after that. Treated many helpless people. Saved many lives.
Dr. Ebadullah has worked in various upazila hospitals, Thana Health Complex. Served as Civil Surgeon of Satkhira till 2010. Then retire. But even after retirement, he did not stop serving the patients. This doctor thinks that there is no such thing as leisure in the life of doctors.
Until now, he continues to serve tirelessly. In 2015, the fee for seeing the patient was slightly increased to Tk 10 due to much compulsion. Fees had to be increased due to price increase including electricity bill, clinic rent, staff salary. However, he tried to ensure that the fee does not become an excessive burden on the patient, said Ebadullah himself, a doctor on duty.
“The name of my clinic is Nawab Memorial Diagnostic and Consultation Center. I have named the clinic after my grandfather. He taught me to love people first. Keeping his ideals in front of me, I have tried to serve people all my life. I am still doing it. As long as I am healthy, I will do it. When I started giving services for 5 rupees, I did not listen to the slanderer’s words. I don’t need money or fame.I only want people’s prayers said Dr. Abdullah.
Helpless, poor and miserable people Dr. Loves Ebadullah. See with respect. Everyone in Satkhira district knows Dr. Ebadullah as the doctor of the poor. Just mention the name of Dr. Abdullah anywhere in the city, be it a hawker or a day laborer. He is equally popular not only with the people of the city but also with the people of different upazilas of the district. Even the people of remote areas of coastal upazila Shyamnagar know and respect him.
Van driver Shukur Ali. He went to Dr.Ebadullah for treatment of his son. Under his treatment, the boy recovered completely. Not only the doctor fee is low, the cost of various tests at Dr Ebadullah’s clinic is also relatively low. The mind becomes better with the sincere use of the doctor. May such a doctor live for a thousand years – the voice of this van driver was filled with gratitude.
Nawab Ali went to the hospital and met Ayna Khatun. She said, “My husband died 30 years ago today. I have to work as a domestic worker. My son and daughter came to Dr Abdullah for various ailments. He saved the poor people. Can we see a doctor with a fee of Rs 1,000?” ? This doctor charges 10 taka. I can buy the medicine with the remaining fee.”
Patients come from different areas of Satkhira, Jessore, Khulna districts to seek Dr. Ebadullah. If you go to Nawab Memorial Diagnostic and Consultation Center, you will see a rush of patients in the morning or afternoon. Most of these patients belong to economically backward classes. But instead of inferiority complex, you will see the impression of calmness on the face of the patients. Because there is no need to hide the disease thinking about the doctor’s consultation fee at least.
The doctor takes a long time to see the patient. A couple of words, some witty exchange, along with the necessary advice. At present, when most doctors go to the private chamber, the medicine is prescribed, some machine-operated things, and then the compounder comes out. No, Nawab Memorial Clinic is not like that at all. ‘People are for people, life is for life’ – you will understand how true this saying is when you step into this ideal doctor’s clinic.
Sudhin Kumar Das is the compounder of Dr Ebadullah He worked at Nawab Memorial Clinic for 40 years. “One thing I have learned after working for so many years is to be able to love people. About 70-80 patients come here every day to take care. The clinic has two nurses, X-ray, ECG and a technician in each department. We have a sincere effort to provide the highest level of service. ,” said Sudhin.
When such advanced medical services did not start in Satkhira city – the number of doctors was also limited – then doctors like Dr Ebadullah came to guide the poor patients. Who doesn’t know that ‘There is no death illustrious’? Dr. Ebadullah will live among people for a long time through his service and work. If other doctors come forward like Dr Ebadullah keeping the religion of service in front, then the poor, helpless and common people of the country will be saved. Also, the common misconceptions about doctors will change to some extent.
