Country’s renowned neurosurgeon and former president of the Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) Chittagong branch, the late Professor Dr. L.A. Quaderi, has been remembered by his younger brother, freedom fighter and renowned journalist Moinuddin Quaderi Shawkat. In a memorial service, he highlighted his late brother’s unique contribution to the field of medicine, social welfare work and human qualities.

While reminiscing, former Press Council member Moinuddin Quaderi Shawkat said that Professor Dr. L.A. Quaderi was not only a successful doctor; he was a unique personality with a philanthropic, non-communal and liberal mindset. His shining role in the development and expansion of neurosurgery in the country will forever be emulated by medical students.

He mentioned that in 1963-64, Professor Qaderi stood first in the first class in the entire country with a gold medal in the MBBS final examination under Dhaka University. However, due to his involvement in the civil rights movement against the then Pakistani military regime, his scholarship was stopped due to political outrage. Later, his younger brother expressed regret that even during the democratic governments, he did not receive proper evaluation due to the machinations of vested interests.

In the memoirs, various aspects of Dr. Qaderi’s truthfulness and social service come to the fore. Even in the last days of his life, he used to highlight the courage of telling the truth and its scientific basis. During his tenure as the president of BMA Chittagong (1988-91), he united doctors of all ideologies and built a bond of friendship. One of his greatest qualities was his selfless donation to various educational institutions, mosques, madrasas and helpless people.

Recalling the family bond and brotherhood, Moinuddin Qaderi Shawkat quoted the hadith of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and said that Professor Qaderi was always aware of the responsibilities of the elder brothers and the rights of the younger ones in the family and used to uphold them.

In memory of this dedicated life, he expressed deep gratitude to all the well-wishers, mourners and sympathizers at home and abroad and prayed to the Almighty Allah for forgiveness and Jannatul Firdous for the soul of Professor Dr. L.A. Qaderi.