Dr. Shekhar Bandyopadhyay, an ENT specialist in Siliguri, West Bengal, has sparked controversy by requiring Bangladeshi patients to pay respects to the Indian national flag before entering his private clinic. This move comes amid heightened tensions following reports of the Indian flag being desecrated in Bangladesh.
Dr. Bandyopadhyay, who also serves as a Special Medical Officer at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, has placed an Indian flag outside his clinic with a notice written in Bengali. The notice explicitly states that patients must salute the flag to receive medical services. “I am deeply hurt by the desecration of our national flag in Bangladesh,” Dr. Bandyopadhyay remarked. “While I do not wish to deny treatment to any patient, those who come to our country must respect our flag and our motherland.”
This stance is part of a broader reaction among medical professionals in West Bengal. Recently, several healthcare providers have expressed their disapproval of the alleged disrespect towards the Indian flag by refusing to treat Bangladeshi patients. For instance, J N Ray Hospital in Kolkata, led by director Subhranshu Bhakta, announced it would halt services to Bangladeshi patients as a protest measure. “Country is above all,” Bhakta stated, emphasizing the importance of national dignity over professional duties.
The controversy is rooted in reports of the Indian tricolor being disrespected at various locations in Bangladesh, including educational institutions where students were allegedly encouraged to walk over the painted flag. This incident has exacerbated existing tensions between India and Bangladesh, particularly concerning the treatment of minority communities in Bangladesh and the recent arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das on sedition charges.
The Indian government has expressed serious concerns over these developments. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted the need for Bangladesh to protect its minority communities and ensure fair legal processes. Meanwhile, protests have erupted both in India and Bangladesh, with Hindu groups demanding justice and respect for their communities.
As diplomatic relations between the two countries face challenges, actions like those of Dr. Bandyopadhyay underscore the complex interplay between national pride and professional ethics in times of political tension. The situation continues to evolve as both nations navigate these sensitive issues.
