Becoming a Doctor

1975

Although heavily involved in other activities Fazal continued with his MBBS course. He continued his business only until his third year of the course. Not studying properly throughout the whole year then at the period of exams Fazal concentrated fully on his exams and completed them with success. Fazal comes from a middle class family with limited resources but high aptitude for education. It was a rare prospect to have a parent who was a graduate during the British period, which was a matter of pride. Although it was not very easy to maintain, his father always encouraged education. Through his advice and support Fazal's hard work paid off.

He became a good doctor. He followed the usual procedure of working as a trainee in a hospital for a year after his graduation. He worked very closely with his patients and was more than a doctor to them. They were very fond of him. Fazal used to dedicate all his time for his patients. After completing a year as a trainee Fazal was transferred from the medical hospital to work as a doctor in the rural area. Fazal was relocated in a beautiful place only ten miles away from Sylhet, Dhakadakshin Hospital. He was the Medical officer there. Working in the medical centre, there were fifteen other doctors.

Fazal's position was the most prestigious, however. He had his own residence, staff and secretary and again he became very popular there. Not only did the patients come to see him but also he did home visits. His patients used to say, "Sir, why have you come to see me?" He used to reply, "I gave you medicine and asked you to come back in a few days time to see me, and you didn't, so I came to see how your position is now."

"He was always helpful. He always cared for patients more than he was actually required to."

Majida Begum, mother

Fazal was very affectionate towards all his patients. He gained a lot of respect from those who he helped. Whilst working, he carried on with his cultural career on the radio and television also. He became someone very well known and special with many qualities academically, socially and culturally.

Fazal, aged 23, in a TV play

"There was not a single person like him, during that period of fifteen years, there was no one who was so multi-talented."

Bidit Lal Das

There still is and always has been a class system in Bangladesh. Fazal had to maintain that system, as it cannot be broken. However, his behaviour and feelings towards others, despite what class they fell into, was always friendly. He never neglected those who were not so well off. He sustained a good relationship with everyone. He tried to help them as much as possible.

During the later part of his career at Dhakadakshin, the cultural work started to diminish slowly. In 1983, Fazal married Aysha. The Akht was on the 5th of July and the wedding ceremony was on the 19th of October. He met Aysha through his work, as her family were his patients while he was at Dhakadakshin.

Fazal and Aysha (1985)