Besides, the authorities concerned will be urged to raise the health budget to at least 12 percent from the existing six percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

These were some of the pledges made by the leaders of Shadhinata Chikitsak Parishad (Shachip), the Awami League (AL)-backed doctors' association, while speaking at a press briefing at Dhaka Reporters Unity Auditorium yesterday.

The briefing was arranged on the eve of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) Election 2005 scheduled to be held tomorrow.

Parishad Convenor Prof Ruhul Hoque said, "If elected to BMA leadership, we pledge to implement the National Health Policy prepared during the rule of the AL government and make functional all 13,500 community clinics built under the health and population sector programme (HPSP)."

In a written statement, he said, "We have also plans to upgrade the position of some 1400 non-cadre doctors under regular cadre system."

Former BMA president Prof Rashid-e-Mahbub said, "We would work to prevent practice by foreign doctors in the name of 'technology transfer' in Bangladesh, and create more posts of doctors to enable employment of newly graduated doctors."

Prof Muddsser Ali, former director general of the health services, and Dr Iqbal Arslan were present at the press conference.

Meanwhile, Dr Hadi-Dr Zahid panel yesterday held a grand ceremony at the Dr Milon Auditorium of Dhaka Medical College to introduce its candidates.

Leaders of the panel included Dr M A Hadi, Dr A Z M Zahid Hossain, Dr A K M Azizul Huq, Dr Harun-al-Rashid, Dr Farhad Halim Donar and Dr Mostak Rahim Swapan.

Some 1500 doctors and interns were present on the occasion.