• Source: Pran Gopal Datta

Pran Gopal Datta (born 1 October 1953) is a Bangladeshi physician, university administrator and politician. In September 2021, he won a seat in the Jatiya Sangsad representing the Comilla-7 constituency in an unopposed by-election. The seat had become vacant after Ali Ashraf died in office in July 2021.
Datta was awarded the Independence Day Award, the highest civilian award in Bangladesh, in 2012 for his contributions to the medical field. He is an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist. He also served as the personal physician to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.




Background and education


Datta was born on 1 October 1953 in Mahichail village, Chandina, Comilla District, the second of seven brothers and sisters. He matriculated from Chandina Pilot High School in 1968 and attended Comilla Victoria College. He earned his MBBS degree at Chittagong Medical College in 1976, PhD degree from Odessa State Medical University in 1983, and an MSc in audiological medicine from University of Manchester in 1993.




Career


Datta regularly provides treatment to his patients at Green Life Hospital. He is a professor in the Department of ENT at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. He also works as an 'Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist & Head Neck surgeon' in the same organization. In 2021, he was nominated by the Awami League to contest by-elections for Jatiya Sangsad from Comilla-7 constituency after the death of Ali Ashraf.




2024 Election Scandal


Dr. Datta's political career saw notable controversy during the 2024 parliamentary elections in Bangladesh. He was declared the winner of the Cumilla-7 constituency, but the election was marred by incidents of violence, ballot-stuffing, vote theft, and allegations of electoral irregularities. Reports indicated that clashes between supporters of Dr. Datta and other candidates resulted in injuries and disrupted the electoral process. Despite being declared the winner, the legitimacy of the election was questioned.




Allegations of Discrimination


During his tenure at BSMMU, Dr. Datta faced allegations of discriminatory practices. Several doctors accused him of marginalizing doctors of differing political beliefs while favoring doctors affiliated with the Awami League. The promotion policies at BSMMU were reportedly altered to include a viva voce requirement, which critics claimed was used to benefit certain candidates over others.
Affected doctors described the environment at BSMMU as a "hall of mirrors" of mental torture, with allegations that doctors, despite being qualified, were systematically denied promotions. It was reported that many key positions were held by Awami League affiliated doctors, which fueled claims of political bias.
In response to these allegations, supporters of Dr. Datta argued that the changes in promotion criteria were intended to maintain high academic standards and that the claims of bias were politically motivated.




Fall of Awami League Government


On August 5, 2024, the Awami League government fell amid widespread political unrest and protests after the state sanctioned killings of protesters nationwide. He has been charged for murder on three separate counts, one of which during the July Revolution, regarding the killing of protestors where he was charged with Sheikh Hasina. Following the collapse of the government, Dr. Datta reportedly went into hiding, as political instability and the subsequent shift in power created a precarious situation for many political figures.




References

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri
• Daftar penerima penghargaan Padma Bhushan (2000–09)
• Ghulam Mustafa Khan
• Jasraj
• Daftar penerima penghargaan Padma Bhushan (1970–79)
• Pran Gopal Datta
• Chittagong Medical College
• List of Bangladeshi Hindus
• 2024 Bangladeshi general election
• Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University
• List of members of the 12th Jatiya Sangsad
• List of Indian Bengali scientists
• Kundu (surname)
• Sir Salimullah Medical College
• Kamrul Hasan Khan