Photo : BSS

DHAKA, March 12, 2025 (BSS) - The High Court (HC) today ordered that from now on none can use the title "Dr" before their names without obtaining Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree.

A High Court division bench of Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Shathika Hossain passed the order after holding hearing on two separate writ petitions filed in this regard.

"The court, however, observed that people, who have already been using "Dr" before their names after obtaining only a diploma degree, cannot be punished. It also ordered to take necessary steps to provide appropriate title within next six months to diploma degree holder physicians," petitioner's lawyer Mohammad Saddam Hossain told newsmen.

Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir and Mohammad Saddam Hossain argued for one writ, while Md Saidur Rahman stood for another. Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman and Deputy Attorney General AFM Saiful Karim took part in the
hearing for the state. Advocate Qazi Ershadul Alam moved for Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council.

Then convener of Bangladesh Diploma Medical Association (BDMA) Shamsul Huda filed the first writ in 2013, accusing the concerned act was being applied discriminatorily o DMF degree holders. The incumbent president and general
secretary of BDMA filed the second writ, challenging the section 29 of the act.

The High Court after holding hearing on the first writ passed an interim order and issued a rule on March 11, 2013. It also issued another rule on November 25, 2024, after holding hearing on the second writ petition. It came up with today's judgment after holding hearing on the two writ petitions.